Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1901-06-14

SMALLPOX SYMPOSIUM

SMALLPOX SYMPOSIUM
Some New Ideas Advanced
On The Disease.
The section of practice Of medicine,
in the house of representatives yester-
day. resolved itself into symposium
on smallpox, and both the papers that
were read and the discussion that fol-
lowed proved very instructive and ex.
citing.
During the discussion sensation
was produced by the statement of DR..
Frederick Leavitt, Of st. Paul, to the
effect that the epidemic which has
spread through the Northwest and a
great many sections of the country
during the past two or three years, is
not smallpox, as generally believed,
but that the malady is cross between
mild, discrete smallpox and chicken
pox.
This view was also taken by DR.. W..
L. Beebe, Of St. Cloud, who read a
paper on the "Old and New Smallpox, "
in which he held that the epidemic is
not identical with the old-fashion
smallpox, and he gave the peculiar
characteristics of the new disease,
showing wherein it differed from the
other
DR.. H. NJ Bracken, secretary of the
state board of health, took issue with
the gentlemen named, and he main
tained that the epidemic is genuine
smallgox, although Of a mild type, and
he gave an interesting account of his
experience in meeting the exigencies
! due to the disease.
/ DR.. T. J. Happel. of Trenton, Tenn,
read an instructive paper on PSEUDO
or Modified Smallpox" and he out
lined the anomalies met with in 400
cases coming under his observation.
In many Of the cases he found non
communicabilty of the disease, while
many persons who had been vaccinated
were victims of the malady, number
Of the unvaccinated escaped. He gave
brief review Of the epidemic of 1901,
with especial reference to his own To-
cslity."
The professional opinions quoted
above from the st. Paul Globe. may
give the average citizen an idea of how
doctors disagree, and the gentlemen
giving their expert opinions were in
the presence Of the learned medics Of
the nation assembled in st Paul
Those who know the genuine old
fashioned smallpox when they see it
and have knowledge of its nasty fatal
character, are firm in the belief that
the epidemic now prevailing in all the
Western States is not geuine smallpox.
In Minnesots, Iowa, Nebraska, North
and South Dakota this mild disease is
found in almost every town and coun.
ty, and no community seems to have
escaped its presence. 1t seems to be a
cross between chickenpox and vario'
loid, or little of each combined in q
special line, unknown to medical
science. The disease whatever it may
be called, is to be found everywhere,
and from the fact that so few have
died from it, and from tho trifling de.
gree of sickness accompanying the at
tack, there is little danger from its
presence. Grip is ten times more fatal
and many other kinds of sickness
which We fear not are more to be
dreaded than this so.called smallpox.
The first requisite in treating this new
disease is secluslon and prompt treat.
ment, and it will disappear as speedily
as it came Any disease if neglected
will produce death, even the measles
must be watched with care. There 10
no necessity for any alarm anywhere
if ordinary measures are taken to pre-
vent and cure. A large responsibility
rests on the local board of health every
where, and these gentlemen should be
prompt and fearless in discharge OF
duty. At one time last winter every
county in Missouri had this new dis
ease, and some experts think the whole
c ountry will be overrun with 1t next
winter. Go after it everywhere and
stamp it out. A little bit of prairie
fire if let alone, will overrun an entire
state in the right season. The writer
while in command of the Soldiers
Home last winter took extra precau.
ton against its getting into the home
and succeeded, although men were
coming and going all the time. 1t
won't take long to stamp this hybrid
out if people are careful and prompt in
treatment.