Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-31
YAWS OR
SMALL POI
Two Physicians say AZ 10 without
Doubt Smallpox,


Two Physicians say az 10 without
Doubt Smallpox.
Marathon, Ia, May 29.--Editor Times
Republican: Your editorial on ..Yaws,'s
which occupied conspicuous place In
your paper OF the 2sth inst, Is certainly
a masterpiece OF exposed ignorance
either on your part or on the part Of
that prominent and experienced" Mar
Ishalltown physician. II this prominent
man, whose name did not appear, is
practicing medicine according to the
Encyclopedia Britannica, he had better
keep his opinion to himself, or he may
accidentally get disease OF the yaw,
caused by too much rag chewing. That
the epidemic which laet winter was
raging thru our state wac smallpox no
one but an ignorant swell head will ever
deny. l was myself, together with my
t:"c boys, The victim of the disease.
Your prominent physician quotes some
facts" regarding 'yaws, evidently ta-
ken from the Britannica. Let me also
quote some, not from the Britannica:
sFramboesia, also termed yaws and plan,
5is contagiouscu malady, char
acterized by the formation OF macules.
ipapules, tubercles and pugtules, and ac-
lcompanied by more or less lassitude,
fever and pains in the joints and bonee.
The disease appears to be epidemic in
the West Indies and on the western
coast of Africa. 1t is occasionally OBJ
served in the southern portion OF the
United States. The eruption consists at
first of a variable number OF macules,
which become elevated and transformed
into papules and tubercles. They are
usually firm to the touch. round or oval
in shape. and red or yellow, in color.
They gradually increase in size and be-
come covered with small fiat, red ele-
Vations, presenting q raspberry-lik ap-
pearance. Some of the LESSONS coaleece,
forming large fungoid masses. After a
time the. LESSONS become assured or
abraided and semipundent substance
oozes out. The papules may become
changed into pustules. The eruption
may appear upon any portion of the
body. but is most frequently observed
on the face, neck. hands and feet and
around the thighs. There is no itching
at any time and the eruptions are not
accompanied by pain, except when the
LESSONS are subjected to pressure. The
period ofAincubation is said to be from
six weeks to three months. The afYec-
ton pursues q protracted course and
may If untreated, remain for years. The
average duration OF each tumor is given
as from one to three months. In severe
cases II may terminate In deep and
widespread liberation and the forma-
ton of permanent cicatrices. "Yaws''
is produced by ccntagion and is most
frequently propagated by too intimate
relationship. The disease may, however,
be acquired thru the medium OF eating
and drinking utensils and other infected
articles. The malady occasionally ends
fatally in consequence OF femorrhages
and exhaustion. Some medical writer's
go so far as to place "yaws' among the
syphilitic diseases. Be this as II may,
enough has been said to plainly show
that yaws and smallpox can not be
mistaken for one another. That the epi-
demicof smallpox has In some instances
been mild is our good fortune and shows
what vaccination, preventative medi-
cine, care and good hygiene will do.
That "a good many people have been In
credulous about the character OF the
disease" is to be regretted, but Is no
surprise to me. In an outbreak OF an
epidemic every street loafer, every whit
ting dry goods box delegate becomes an
expert diagnostician. He knows more
IN one minute about diseaee than the
most expert medical man that has spent
the best of his years In the interest OF
the medical science. The honest medi-
cal man Ia entitled to respect, but the
almighty medical quack to nothing but
contempt.