The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-03-08
NO. 90.
WAS NOT sMALLpox.
Wrong Diagnosis OF the Case OF 1Lrs. Al
bertson by DR.. Richsrds-N0 DiPh-
theria &c Was Reported.

" DAA%n0eAa u A4G l81l q ~ -
bertson BY DR.. Richsrds-No DIph-
iberia as Was Reported.
The situstion IN regard TO smallpox
in the county is about the same IS re-
ported in TIE REPUBLIC last week.
There have been in all eight cases, AL
confined to the Dimmitt, Fletcher and
Johnson families, living west Of town.
In the AlbertsOn case, near Edison,
the people there represented TO the
county health officer that they we're
not satisfied as to the diagnosis Of the
disease as reported by DR.. Richards
and did not think it was smallpox at
all. Accordingly Health Officer Farrow
in company with Drs. Gulick and
Brown, went to the Albertson home to
hold a consultation and report on the
case Of Mrs. n. E. Albertson.
After examination the three doctors
agreed that there was no sign Of small
pox, and that the only disease with
which Mrs. Albertson as afflicted was
cancer. Accordingly The quarantine
was raised, not only on the Albertson
family, but all who had visited there.
Saturday morning q wagon drove into
Goodland, decorated with six yellow
flags, the harvest of the quarantine
east of town.
1t seems also that DR.. Richards was
the one who reported the case OF diph-
liberia in the family Of Nick ScalliOn.
Drs. Brown and Gulick were called In
later and reported that the Scallion
child was not suffering from diphtheria
but tonsilitis. So the other doctors
disagreed with DR.. Richards in both
cases.
Saturday afternoon DR.. Richards
went to the Fletcher home where there
are smallpox patients. He is reported
to have secured couple Of scabs from
a patient, and that he told the Fietch-
er family he intended sending them
away for examination. The matter be-
came known to the health officer Mon
day, and DR.. Richards, being interro-
gated. confessed that it was smallpox
in the Fletcher home. He also stated
that he had put the scsbs in glass
tube and sent them away for exsmi-
There was some talk of arresting
Richards for violating the quarantine
regulations, but the doctor justified
himself on the ground that being a
physician he had the same right as
any. other doctor to visit the family
and that he had taken the necessary
precaution to disinfect himself.
Inquiry at the postoflce revealed the
fact that DR.. Richards had sent .
sealed package to the state board OF
health at Topeka. The postmaster did
not know at the time what it contained,
but being interviewed by the sheriff
and county attorney, they informed
him that Richards admitted sending
away the smallpox scabs procured OF
one Of the Fletcher patients, through
the mails. The postal laws are very
stringent as to regulations for the
purulent matter, etc. The postmaster
must be informed of its contents; the
party mailing must be a proper per
son, a physician or a person eompet-
ent TO handle such matter; it must be
Theoretically sealed in glass tubs,
then put in a tin box, and this box In
another tin box and all properly sealed.
The label must state contents and the
party to whom mailed must be reoOg-
nized by the department as a proper
person or persons, to receive il.
1t is claimed the package sent By
Richards was not enclosed in tin boxes
and the postmaster was not informed
of its contents. To say the least 1t wss
a very strange proceeding. Further
developments are awaited.