The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-10-10

had been exposed, and all are now
in the pest house. The cases, as
stated, were under the charge of DR..
Hannum. Jean Lavoillette, who has
been in charge of the pest house, has
been re-instated, and is nursing the
sick. At noon Wednesday no pro-
vision had been made for medical
attendance, although one of the
cases brought here Tuesday was
very bad.
There was some criticism of DR..
Hicks action in bringing smallpox
cases here from Bayfield, heard upon
the streets yesterday. When asked
about the matter the doctor said
that he had understood that the pest
house was county institution, and
that inasmuch as all the cases
of the town of BAYFIELD, had been
cared for here in the past, that
he only followed the usual custom
and practice in bringing the patien is
to the pest house on the outskirts of
this city. It is said, though, that
this is the first instance where peo-
pie who were well have been brought
here and lodged in the institution.
But people should not be too free
with their criticism upon any one
person. It is better to look at con-
ditions that have long prevailed, and
see if they cannot be rectifed. The
TIMES believes that the custom
which has long been allowed
to exist, whereby Washburn has
been made the dumping ground for
smallpox patients for Bayfeld-and
nearly the entire county, for that
matter, should be stopped at once.
Out of six hundred cases in the
county the past year two thirds of
all the cases have been cared for
here, and in but few instances has
the town been Reimbursed for its
expenditures. Washbdrn is amply
able to take care of its own patients,
but an immediate halt should be
called upon Bayfield, and other
towns using us as dumping ground
for their contagious.
*x*
DIR. F. B. Hicks, of this city, as
special agent for the Wisconsin
Board of Health, has been giving his
attention to the smallpox matter,
and has visited large number of
the lumber camps throughout Bay
field county. He has travelled in
every direction and has fumigated a
few camps. The doctor says that
the policy of the State Board is to do
everything possible to prevent the
contagion from spreading again,
through the camps this winter. He
has found it necessary ito fumigate
but three camps of the numbe Wis
tied, but says that every camp where
the disease existed last winter will
have to be thoroughly cleansed and
fumigated if it is used again this
winter. The doctor says that at the
present time there is not much
smallpox in Bayfield, county. Asked
his opinion as to the probable recur-
renee of the disease this winter, the
doctor says that while there will
likely be recurrence of the disease
in sporadic cases, still he is of the
opinion that with the work now
being done by the State Board of
Health towards preventing the dis
ease that there will be no general
contagion among the lumbermen
this winter. There were perhaps
over six hundred cases in this county
last winter, four hundred of which
were cared for by the town of Wash
burn. The expense has fallen very
heavily upon the towns and they are
naturally delighted that the state
board is endeavoring to prevent a
siege like that of the past year.
DR.. T. S. Buzzard, dentist. located
opposite Hotel Washburn. Crown
and bridge work a speciality. If