The sun., 1901-10-14
SMALLPOX
SPREADING
Gases in Sussex, Kent and New
Castle Counties.
STATE HEALTH BOARD ACTS
Disease in Kent County Was Brought
There by a Colored Girl
Who Came From
Chester.


that unless the utmost precaution was
taken there would be an epidemic OF
smallpox il Wilmington. At the time ]
interviewed number OF physicialis and
they prescribed a number of things IL
be done to prevent the disease getting q
f0othold in Wilmington. One was u
wholesale vaccination and the other waA
to see that the sanitary condition Of the
city was good. 1t was suggested that tho
lots be cleared Of all the weeds and filth
that has accumulated there during the
summer.
As smallpox is u cold weather diseasr
the necessity of doing this work immedi,
ately was set forth.
A short time after this warning wa
sounded it was discovered that there
was an epidemic of the disease in tho
lower part of Sussex county The State
Board Of Health took the matter np
and did everything possible to prevent
the spread of the disease.
The disease is raging in Chester and
Philadelphia and it became known 81
Saturday that smallpox had broken out
among the soldiers in Fort du Pont ~
Delaware City and in Kent county neal
Willow Grove. Two soldiers are suffer
ing with the disease at the fort.
The attention Of the State Board Of
Health was called to the matter and pr
Alexander Lowbcr, secretary Of Il.
board ut once proceeded to the fort aud
placed it under quarantine. ordering the
sufferers to he confined in a pest house,
isolated from the rest of the garrison. A.
the quarantine expired Saturday spa"
...l .N,I Had al
it met in Delaware City to discuss til
situation. After careful investigation il,
was decided to extend the quarantine
until October 20, by which time il is
hoped that the disease will be stamped
ont. If such is not the ease, however
the quarantine will he extended until
such Il time when all danger is consid
cred past. Strict precautions are being
taken to prevent an epidemic. all soldiers
having been ynccinated and all mail
3matter sent from the fort is thoroughly
32Tumigated. In speaking of the condition
Sof affairs Dr. I.owber said that he did
not fear an outbreak of the disease al
though all precautions would be taken to
meet any emergency.
x The appearance OF case of smallpox
In the vicinity Of Willow Grove has
catscd excitement among the residents
OF Kent county and many people are now
being vaccinated. Rose johnson. ii young
cQIorca woman who had been working III
g&hester hnt who became troubled with
}lHn irritating malady which the physi
H&{zns termed "Cnhan itch" was sent
S6Vfk to her home between Woodside ana
Millow Grove by the Chester doctors
sa4Wi went about among the c0lored pco
Hnih for some time before DIR. Il. w. Coon
zeE president Of the State Board of
Health arrived and 1T once pronounced
Hpef trouble ms smallpox. pr Cooper in
Fatltntrd vigorous quarantine. fumiga
Sf1on and the improved methods for treat
lnE the dreaded disease, Int the news
tN2on spread and general vaccination
foiinwrd.
&l Iherc will he considerable apprehrn.
4 Men among the Camden and Dover peo
pie until il is aseertained whether on not
ffhe johnson woman came in contact with
my of their inhabitants. Every effort Is
.&sbeng made by physicians and anthoritip
AEhroughout the State to avert any small
HNoN scare and spread Of the disease such
}5As That "f last year, which came before
%T" authorities were aroused.
#3 These eases should arouse the local
&Boarl Of Health to some action. So
far they have done ontling. waiting for
~" disease to make its appearance here
bcforr doing anything.
Il is only six months ago that several
nf the towns in lower Sussex county
We're afflicted with this disease in almost
epidemic form and the contagion was
Traced to single case imported from
hester. So serious did the health an
n 'hnrltlcs Of the State consider the epi
#demlc that strict quarantine was cstab-
fllsh"d AMI through heroic treatment the
disease was eiiectually stamped out
lhe evidence Of the preventive power
OF vaccination is daily becoming NOR
convincing The following is quoted
from the report Of Chief Good Of Phila-
d'lphia's Health Bureau:
Not Il single person recently success
fully vaccinatea has been admitted to the
Municipal Hospital. While the plotec-
tive measures now enforced are import
amt there is none so eilicaciouS in pre-
venting the spread of smallpox as vaccin-
anon. The admissions To the hospitals
afn made up entirely Of two classes d
those unvaccinated and thosr
fhcelh'tt'd IN infancy and in whom tho
protection IS either diminished ar lnst
through the lapse OF time"
~ VIII ne seen from the above story
1hnt The disease is rapidly appronchin..
Wilmington.