The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-08-01
Small Fox Breaks out in Wash
burn.
DOES NOT APPEAR TO SPREAD
Large Number of People Were Ex-
posed. but the Contagion Does not
Appear to Claim Very Many
Victims.

Considerable excitement prevail
lie throughout the city Friday when
it became known that there were
three or four cases Of small pox in
the city. The excitement was some
what intensified when it became
known on the following day that
DR.. Mitchell had the disease. The
doctor had been attending to his
professional duties, and was not
confined to his quarters much, so
that in the past two weeks he ex-
posed a good portion of the town.
DR.. G. W. Harrison, of Ashland, a
member OF the state board of health,
was here, and was accompanied by
DR., A. j. Marchissault, also of Ash
land. The latter having been
through scourge of the disease
was thoroughly familiar with it, and
the two physicians assisted the local
officers in instituting quarantine
regulations. While there was quite
a scare for day or two it seems to
have about subsidized as the disease
is not spreading any, and the diff
ferent cases are of very mild type,
and the patients are all recovering.
The disease came here from Duluth.
where it was contracted by James
r. Bailey. DR.. Mitchell attended
him al d contracted the disease and
no doubt spread it among his
patients
DIR. Mitchell's Statement.
EDITOR The TINES: Public senti-
ment runs high and the blame is
laid to one physician and all the rest
90 scott free. Let Us see where and
how small pox was first imported.
On the thirteenth day of June one
of the boat crew from the tug Jim
Fuller, came to my Office with a
high fever of 1913 degrees. No
eruption whatever until two days
later | was called to the home of
James R. Bailey and found some
fever and some eruption. AS the
patient gave a history of catching
cold from the stiff breeze on the lake
the night before, and fever set in, and
as the man was a fireman and apt
to be over heated, the eruptions ap-
peared like heat blotches. He was
well in a week and went to work for
a day, firing at one of the saw mills.
but could not stand itand quit work.
That was the last [ heard of the
case. | was called to see Mrs.
Baily the 18th of July to see what
could be done for a cold, with chills
and fever and pain in the back, etc.
The 9th | was sick abed myself.
DIR. Spears was called to treat Mrs.
Baily. He also failed to make a
diagnosis of the case, and treated
her for a run down condition and
liver trouble. I was sent for again
to see Mrs. Baily the 18th of July, and
| was at Mrs. Baily's when DR..
Spears came in. [ was all broke out
in my face and body and so was
Mrs. Baily. DR.. Spears said I ought
not to be out as I might catch cold
and have hard time of it. I felt
very good. Now if DR. Spears
mad ever seen a case of small
pox why did he not report it.
DR.. Bean attended and visited me
most every day to see bow I was
getting along with severe case Of
chicken pox. | told the Dr. that it
dld not CORES pond to yariocella as it
had some characteristics of small
poX or variola, and left it at that
| am we'll, aware that many of my
patients caught it from me for which
l am sorry, but when disease comes
IN a garb that is unacceptable by
our physician in Washburn it is high
time to ask the Health physician of
the state and our Health physician.
Why did not the latter recognize it
when called to Sandie BUSHES.
If the public wishes further infurm ma
ton ask the last named family what
they were treated for, SO that the
public can have light and not con
denim and blame one man for the
epidemic. Ask eighth tenths of all
honest physicians today if they have
ever seen a case Of small poX, at the
school where they received their
diplomas. You will invariably re-