Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-01-12
SMALLPOX N IOWA.
Secretary Kennedy Says There
Have Been Fifty Deaths
Since October.
One Hundred and Fifty Locali-
ties in Iowa Have the
Disease.
Some 1000 c cases Reported Since
October.-Q Quarantine Susees-
tons Made.
,ecial to Times-Republican


Special to Times Republican.
Deg Moines, Jan. 12.-Figures given
by DR.. Kennedy, secretary of the state I
board of health, show that smallpox is
quite prevalent in Iowa, and that altho
the disease is of mild type, there
have been fifty deaths in the state from
the malady since last october. Dr.
Kennedy states that since early last
fall there have been, at a low estimate
at least 1000 cases in Iowa. He says
about $50 localities have the disease
now. A death was reported to the
health board yesterday from Vtnton
The patient was i'll only four days and
the disease must therefore have been OF
q virulent type. Arecent death was re-
ported from Shelby county, the care be-
ing that of an old man.
The state board of health Is sending
out circulars to the county superin-
tendents and to school boards, giving
information and recommendations IN
regard to smallpox. with the board .
--latest rules for the restriction and pre-
|vention of contagious diseases in the
schools. both public and private.
In some places the schools are being
closed The state board of health does
not advise this: In fact, it urges parti-
cularly that schools ought not to be
closed except in cases where the attend
lance becomes decimated and there are
a large number of cases. The board
holds that the closing of ths. schools
and the in,erminglng of children and
Families that results iseyen more dam
gerous than TO continue the schools and
isolate those that have been taken
| sick.
/ DR.. Kennedy is preparing two papers
| on smallpox. for publication in the next
| issue of the Bulletin. The spreading
of information as to symptoms Of the.
disease and the best methods OF pre-
lvention will, 1T is believed have a
Wholesome effect
The recommendations of the board
say vaccination is the means par ex-
lcellence for the prevention and nitiga-
1 ton of smallpox.
/ The idea of special hospital for
smallpox patients. which Is favored by
1.-THE Des Moines health authorities. is
4 approved by the state board of health.
The state boards quarantine recon-
mendations are as follows:
4 Upon the outbreak of smallpox the
physician called, or where no physician
lis in attendance the householder where
the case may be, should Immediately
y notify the mayor or township clerk OF
the same. whose duty 1t shall be to at
lonce quarantine the premises an d.
ERECTED by the rules of the state board
Iof health. They should provide for
:, suitable medical attendance where such
has not already been done. An im-
mune nurse should if possible be pro-
lvided also. and whatever may be nee
essary to prevent the spread of the
disease and to provide for the care and
comfort of the sick. Special hospitals
= for the care of patients suffering from
Y infectious diseases have proved of great
value in controlling the disease and
J, this is especially true with smallpox
{ Isloation of not only the sick. but alsr
of those who may have been exposed
lis absolutely necessary to prevent the
l.spread of the disease. When the dis
ease has become epidemic a daily house
Ito house inspection is necessary to pre-
l went its spread Also all person who
have been exposed should be vaccnat-
led. and those whom the virus failed to
take effect upon should be re-vaccinat-
ed. Cases of varioloid should always be
treated as cases of genuine smallpox
as they are equally dangerous in
spreading the disease. Quarantine
2 shall be established and maintained IN
each and every case of smallpox fol-
1 forty days
!. The disease is most prevalent In
Z Hamilton. Webster and Boone counties
e The danger to the health of the state
: lat large consists in the fact that the
{ contagion exists at so many different
localities, each point where person is
sick with smallpox being a center from
which the disease may easily radiate.
There is no knowing whore the pres
Ient widespread attack originated from
? 1t appears to have started from ne
!. single locality All thru the summer
o there were a few scattering cages in tn,
state. In fact since 1889. when the DIG
ease appeared at Storm Lake, small
e pox has never been entirely stamped
: out of Iowa. The winter season Is in
variably the worst time for the disease
8 owing to the tendency of humanity t,
: live gregariously and indoors.
~
Big Deal at sioux CITY.