West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-03-07
THE SMALLPOX SITUATION.
To the Members OF the County Court
aud Citizens OF the County.

Smallpox is disease Of the past In
Reno district. About the fourth day OF
November, last. one. John Sigloy. WIS az
Newburg. While there he was talking
With strange man In front OF Gibson
store. The man was very sick and vas
nquiring how soon a train would be going
West In Is or 10 days from that tune,
John Sigley had the smallpox. which he
contracted from the stranger at Newburg.
DR.. Michael was called to the home OF
Sigiey and as the disease was not fully
developed the Doctor thousht il might be
measles not thinking OF smallpox being in
the county. SO DIR. Miohaels didn't see
S'sley any more unit he, Sieley. came over
TO Fellowsviilc.
Then The Doctor discovered that Sigley
had smallpox. as il was broken out and
fully developed then. Or. MichScls in.
form d Dr., l. anham, who is on the State
Board OF Health. IL was n or Ia DAYS
alter before Or, Lanham and A. Staley
shaw. the Pr esident OF the County Court
came over to the Sigley family and they
touod most OF the family with the small.
poN well developed Then they. DR.. Ian.
ham and A. Staiey Shaw went to Fellows.
vile and appointed Dr. Michaels assistant
on the Board of Health SO irom that
time Or. Mlchaels used all dae diligence TO
stop the spread OF the loathsome disease.
Up TO the time that Dr. Michael was
qualified to take charge OF the epidemic. il
had gotten under full Roadway fromFeilows.
vile to the Tucker county line. When
the new court met ON the 9Th of January
the excitement was almost unmanageablc
On the 9th or 9TH of January Neil |. Fortney
sent DR.. Showalter to Followsville to
quarantine the families that had been OK.
posed Both L ortuey aud Showalter be.
long TO the Board OF Health for the county
So when DR.. Showalter returned from
Fellowsvilic and made his report the court
then appointed DR.. Bryan and myself as
agents to assist DR. Michaels IN getting the
disease under control can say for both
DR. Michaeis and DR.. Bryan that they have
used all due diligence in rain and snow
and freezing weather to wipe out that
dreaded disease Also the school and
church people all responded TO the request
of the court aud had no gatherings for
about twenty days. Many of the best
citizens demanded that some of the houses
should be burned. So the Court gave me
latitude TO use my best judgment in that
sense and on Sunday after county court
adjourned. In company with Or. Michaeis
visited two families that had the small.
poN In all it's forms. distinct ana the con.
fluent; but they are both the same disease
In different degrees of severity. The
distinct form is the mildest. where the
pustules or scabs are fewer. distinct from
each other. aud do not run together. On
the other hand, IL is said to be continent
the pustules, especially on the face. hands
and arms run together and form one con.
tinuous seab, and. of course. is much more
virulent aud dangerous, and each family.
when they were ready to turn out their
clothing were all cleansed and the houses
well dislnfected, and on the 7sth day OF
February, last ended the struggle In All
% cases and this ends smallpox la Reno
district we hope. can say for both
DR. M'chaels and DIR Bryan that they
were well pleased when the end came
Yours kindly,
IL ZINN
IS. since writing the above / near
that another case is reported. but hav,
not been able TO verify IL as ye,. NJ