The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-08
SMALLPOX DYING OUT IN BILLINGS

OxlNO WI AN DAA<AA10S'
One Patient Discharged and Two More
Will Be Next Week.
Smallpox continues to make itself
felt in Montana, hardly a city or town
of any size escaping the disease, but
it does not seem to be any more preva-
lent than it was last winter. There
are still four cases in the pest house in
Billings, the first patient, a woman,
having been dismissed several days
ago, while a new patient was taken
from the hospital q couple of days
ago. He had been confined in the
hospital for sometime with typhoid
fever. All the smallpox patients have
the disease in the usual mild form.
Two Of them will be discharged early
next week and unless new cases appear
it will be but a couple Of weeks until
the pest house can be closed up again.
DR.. Townsend says there is no reason
for uneasiness on the part Of the peo-
pie of Billings, as all the present cases
have not made their appearance in
Billings ontil after the disease was ap-
parent and no one having come in con-
tact with them, there is little p obabil-
ity IF an epidemic.
DR.. John B. Darling, ex-regimental
SURGEON of the TLird United States
infantry, which went from Fort SMELL
ing to the Philippines, believes that
the country IS on the verge of an cpl
demic of smallpox and that contagion
has been spread by returning soldiers
from the Philippines. DR.. Darling
says that the situation is alarming and
should engage the attention OF the au-
thorities the country over.
"This country is on the verge of all
epidemic Of smallpox said DR.. Darl-
ing. For the last two years the re-
turning soldiers from the Philippines
have been bringing the germs ct the
disease into the country. Vague press
reports within the past six weeks are
even now presaging the arrival OF an
epidemic.
II have just read a report from New
York to the effect that there were
porbably 10000 cases in that city. l
can say nothing for the truthfuluess
of the report. If it is true, speaking
from what l know of the disease, the
city of New York will probably be
auarantined against the world within
a short time. When the disease
reached New York, it had completed
it's trip across the continent. In the
trail of the returning soldiers, who
landed on the Pacific coast, the disease
followed. I think it may be said that
there is not a state in the union that
is not, at present, coping with the dis
ease. For ourselves in this state, we
know that very few of our smallest
towns have escaped without Il OF
more cases. This condition, speaking
generally, exists over the entire coun'
try. =.
"In the large cities the menace is
greatest. The disease is, at present,
Of only a mild type. The poor classes.
in many instances, do not call ever
the city physicians. The inmates Of
the infected homes go out into thu
world spreading contamination. This
is the way the disease has spread thus
far.
"The growth of the disease has beef
inevitable. There is more smallpox
over the country now than there haI
been in 40 years.
"In spite of our boats of fine SAM
tation, it is undeniable that u mod
of life is conducive to a spread OF tn
disease. This is particularly SO in tn
winter time. Necessarily our home
are tightly closed and we'll warmed
There are few draughts. An infected
person might infect an entire hous
during a stay of q few moments. il
like manner, a traveller, who had bee
exposed, might come into n OF GU
! hot, close railroad cars and infect a Ca
full of persons during a short trlI
The same is true of u street cars
DR.. Darling said that the condition
!, prevailing during the winter in thi
country were fully as conducive t
the spreading of smallpox as the mos
favorable conditions that might exls
in equatorial countries.
1T believe that authorities over tn
t entire country are expecting a tids
, wave of the disease" said DR.. Oar
ing. "The recent order Of DR.. Ohag
Regarding the vaccination of student
at parochial schools shows how /
, feels about it.
IT do not believe in making a seal
about this, but I feel that the menae
should be appreciated by the public
S This appreciation might do much
, lessen the dangers of the disease"
COLDER WEATHER.
!,
. Tho mometer Drons Down to Ten Deere