Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-02-15
SMALL POX SCARE.
rs CASES IN SMALL TOWN.
Has Been Prevalent in a Mild
Form at HarrisVille Some Time.

w O.
The people of Harrisville, ~ H., IL
miles east of Keene are alarmed over
an outbreak of smallpox. DR.. George
Cook of Concord, inspector of the
state board of health and a smallpox
expert, was called to Harrisville Wed
nesday, Feb. 6, by a representation
from a Huntsville physician, DR.. ID. b.
Crediford, that he had several cases
resembling smallpox. DR.. COOK re-
turned Thursday to Concord, report
ing to the board that he had found
three genuine cases of the disease IN
families named Rood, Mcdonald ana
Emery, all situated on Peanut row.
DR.. Irving A. Watson, secretary OF the
board, left at once for the scene, ana
was in Harrisvillle Friday investi-
eating the situation. The cases re-
ported by Dr. Cook were described by
him as second crop" resulting from
exposures to people previously al
fected.
Interviews with Harrisville people
reveal the fact that there have been
25 cases or more of a disease that has
been diagnosed as chicken-poX, but
which was probably smallpox in
mild form. The cases have been con
fined mainly to French-Canadian fam
lilies, but a daughter of J. H. Farwell,
a merchant, is reported to have been
one. The first victim, La Point
girl, employed in the wooden mill, was
absent from work only a week The
disease has thus far been very mild,
but it is liable at any time to assume
a malignant form. Doubtless gen
eral vaccination will be ordered.
Thus far there have been no cases
among the school children, who were
vaccinated 10 days ago by order of the
board Of education. The chief cause
for agitation is in the fact that al
most every one has probably been eX'
posed. DR.. Cook found some opposi-
tion to his inspection work, one of the
worst cases being concealed from
him at first.
The village of North Walpole is suf
fering from scarletina and black diph-
iberia, and the state board of health,
through DR.. Watson, has written let
ter asking the authorities 20 observe
the strictest quarantine in such cases.
Scarlatina and Varioloid at Keene.
The rapid spread of scarlatina, cou
pied with the discovery of a case Of
smallpox diagnosed as varioloid, is
causing alarm in Keene, and a large
number of pupils are being taken out
Of the public schools. Pressure is
being brought to bear on the board of
education for the closing of all the
schools of the union district The
board is ready to act, but, in the alb
sence from town Tuesday of the
ph nj rTf1 Hih rnn daan, tho n
cy sufficient to require the calling OF
a special meeting during the day. i
meeting will doubtless soon be held to
take action in the matter perhaps in
conjunction with the board of health
it is stated that in some cases conval-
escent children, in the desquamatiOn
period, are attending school and
spreading the contagion. Eight or
10 new cases have lately been report
ed to the board of health. DR.. George
Cook, of Concord, inspector of the
state board of health, who is well
known as a smallpox expert, arrived
at Keene Tuesday to investigate the
smallpox situation. DR.. Cook con
firmed the local diagnosis ami gave
special instructions for quarantning
The victim, 16-year-old son OF David
AelIO VI MdIlDOIO street, Hdu Deel
i'll for several days without medical
attendance, and the case was discov-
cred by the board of health Several
children in the family had been pre-
viously i'll with what appeared to be
the grip, and had recovered, with the
exception of a two-year-old daughter
who died last Thursday, the case de-
veloping into what appeared to be
pneumonia. None of the patients
had any breaking out. it is stated
The attending physician was dismiss
ed last week. The smallpox pa.
tient had been vaccinated and the
case is, therefore, reported as vario-
loid, although equally contagious with
variola, or genuine smallpox Seven
hundred and seventy-five vaccine
points were sold Monday by a Keenc
drug firm.