The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-17
ARE HUNDREDS OF CASES
DIR. HURTY, STATE HEALTH OFF,
GER, RETURNS FROM CLAY CITY.
Nine Children I'm One Family with
SmaIIpox-The Disease Has Spread
to Several Counties.

Dr. Hurry, of the State Board of Health.
returned from Clay City. the hotbed of the
smallpox epidemic, yesterday. and reports
a most alarming state OF affairs. he said
that there were hundreds of cases, and
many of them were of the continent form.
which is exceedingly dangerous. Said he:
at is common sight to see little children
walking along the streets Of Clay City
with their faces broken out with the erup-
tive sores of smallpox"
Smallpox is everywhere In Clay City. If
one turns to the right he Is confronted
with a whole row of houses in every one of
which there are to be found one or more
cases of fully developed smallpox. The
same conditions prevail on every side and
DR.. Hurry said that in one instance he
found nine children in one family who
were smitten with the disease at the same
time.
The family referred to is that OF George
Burkhart, a veteran of the civil war. In
speaking of these cases DR.. Hurry said
that the fact that Burkhart, who was
vaccinated during the war, did not have the
disease was very good evidence that the
epidemic was really smallpox. Two Of the
Burkhart children, Blanche and Mona,
have the continent form Of smallpox and II
is very grave question as to their re-
covery.
Under a misapprehension Of the nature
of the disease the public schools were con-
tinued until nearly two-thirds OF the child
rem were inoculated, and 1t was a common
sight to see the little ones going daily to
their lessons with their faces broken out
with smallpox in the pustular stage. The
young, however, are not the only ones who
are attacked with the dreadful scourge
for even in the churches there were seen
scores of adults whose faces were solid
masses Of oozing poison. The only excuse
to be offered for this apparent criminal
neglect on the part of the local board OF
health is the fact that it was advised by
| physicians diagnosing the disease that il
was nothing more than chickenpox and as
consequences its approximations were not
aroused until Informed by Dr. Hurry OF
| the real nature Of the disease. When the
Town Council awoke to the fact that the
| epidemic was really smallpox, the mem
| berS Immediately arranged for a called
meeting at which they passed resolution.
| instructing the health officer to do all h
| could to prevent the further spread of the
| disease, and authorizing him to appoin
| as many deputies as he saw fit, necessary
| to the preservation of the strictest quar-
antine. Many new cases of the disease
are reported from the district schools In
| the neighborhood Of Clay City and the
| disease is rapidly spreading Throughout
| the county.
Just prior to DR.. Hurty's return he was
| summoned to a meeting of the County
Council and he urged upon the members
| the necessity of doing all they could tC
| stamp out the disease, advising them tC
| instruct the county health officer, by depu
| ties, to inspect all the schools, give fres
vaccination and quarantine every person
| who had come in contact with the disease
One of the peculiarities Of the disease 1:
| its rapid spread, and there is some feal
| that 1t may become epidemic Throughout
the State. Smallpox is reported in Clay
Noble, Jackson. Owen, Green and Scot
counties, and unless rigid enforcement
of the quarantine law is observed the dis
| ease is likely to get beyond control. Will,
/ DR.. Hurry was in Clay City, DIR. c. 4
Ferguson, the uiagnostician of the city o.
| Indianapolis, was summoned to Browns
| town, Jackson county, where he found {
well-developed cose of smallpox in tn,
| eruptive stage. When DR.. ferguson re
| turned from Brownstown hs found a tele
| gram awaiting him from DR.. Hurry bidding
| him hasten to Scottsburg. The local boarC
of health of that place wired the Stat,
| Board Of Health that 1t was in urgent neet
of aid. Dr. Hurry said on his arrival yes
terday that he was somewhat at loss
| to understand the urgency of the reQues
| from Scottsburg, but supposed the dis
ease must be raging in that neighborhood
The first person known to have the dis
| ease in Clay City was Herbert Wiltse
who two weeks after returning from
street fair in Washington. Daviess county
was taken very sick and afterward wen
| neighbors, believing that he had chickenpox
did not hesitate to visit him and in Thu
| manner the disease has been sprea(
| all over the country.