Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-06-27
DR.. ". J. J. PARIS
Has Something to Say Concern,
ing the Small Pox Affair.

EDITOR PRESS: The Livingston
Banner has raised a tempest in a
teapot" over the recent smallpox
scare in Marion, and sneeringly
refers to the mistake of the Mari
on "docs." | trust the editor does
not get his information from a
member of the medical prof
IF the Marion physicians have
never made any mistakes they are
1.-THE first in history. The most emit
nent are often in doubt and even
make gross mistakes, as to diagno-
sis. The science is perfect, but
men ure imperfect; and notwith-
standing the accumulated wisdom
lof centuries of study and investi-
lgation by millions of wise men,
physicians are still finite creatures
land liable to err
i The osteopath, christian scient-
list, patent medicine man, etc, etc.
lare the only men who know every
thing, cure all their cases and ne
YER make mistake, and the more
physicians quarrel among them
selves the more will these vam-
lpires fatten by preying upon the
credulity of the gullable.
i By way of analogy we might
say that Christianity is perfect,
but Christians are imperfect, and
the devil laughs when Christians
fall out and fight.
/ DR.. ]. O. Dixon and DR.. II. A,
Frazer both saw Hays and pro-
nounced it smallpox. Upon their
diagnosis he was detained in the
Ipest house and his face fed" a
few days, DR. Frazer attended him
land l never saw him until it was
too late to be certain of anything
Except that he had very recently
had smallpox. My opinion is, that
it was a cases of recurrent erup-
ton, which sometimes happens,
and that none Of the physicians
were mistaken; and again, any
eruption following SO soon after
smallpox might somewhat resem-
BILE the disease and fool the doc
tor, especially when smallpox is so
prevalent as at present, and the
profession is expecting an out
break at any time.
AS to the statement that the Ma
rion docs" wrote to DR. McCor-
mick attacking the Smithland ply
sicians, ETC., the only letter to DR.
McCormic of which l have any
knowledge was a simple report of
the existence of smallpox in Ma
rion, written by me the day Hays
was sent to the pest house and be-
fore l knew where he hailed from |
or that he had been in the Smith
land pest house. He told the doc
tors here that he came from Ron
deau Island, and said not word
about having had smallpox at
|Smithland.
1 am very sorry to have to air
this matter in the public prints,
the discussion has reached stage
at which 1 feel that it is my duty
as county health officer, and in jus
tice to those concerned and the
people, who pay the bills, to give
the facts publicity.
l trust that the physicians will
settle their little dispute without
farther wrangling, and not subject
Ito the ridicule of
quacks and charlatans.
Notwithstanding the fact that
we are members of the greatest,
grandest, loblest profession on
earth, and that we set up higher
standard of honor and come near ,
or living up to our standard as a
GLASS, than any other GLASS of men I
in the world, there is some huma- i
nifty and selfshness in us all, but I
we are not like the quack, totally s
and even a very unwor- I
Thy member of the medical pro- C