The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-21
THE smALLPox SITUATION
There Have Been 1900 Cases In Will
SON County But Since the 2sth of
December There Have Been Only
Thirty-six Cases-SmaIIpox Scare
Meeting at Rocky Mount.

exaggerated. He says he does not know
how many cases there are In the county
hut in the city at present there are
th:rty-three cses. confined to six or
eight families around the cotton mill.
Ec says the pest house at Goldsboro
contains a number OF patients and at
Clinton there are a n-Imbe of cases.
TIE is also still prevalent at
Mount Olive.
The mayor OF Wilson sends the fol-
lowing to the Raleigh News and DID,
server:
Wilson, n. c., January 15.-At a
meeting OF the sanitary board this
Wednesday afternoon. the following
statement was given out for publica-
ton:
ITO The Public: III view of the ex-
argerated statements made in regard to
the smallpox prevailing in the town OF
Wilson, we deem 1t proper to make this
statement. We have carefully ~investi-
gated the matter, after conference with
the superintendent of health and the
physicians of the town. n find that
since December %. 1901. fifteen fam
lies have been affected. comprising
thirtv-six persons. OF these twenty
eight are we'll but detained under quar-
antine regulations
You can see from the above state
ment how grossly exaggerated are the
man rumOrs. Our cases are situated
on the outskirts Of the town and every
case under quarantine. All cases are of
the mildest type and there is no oc-
casion for any alarm.
"DOANE HERRING. Mayor"
DR.. Richard H. Lewis, of Raleigh,
secretary of the state board of health,
in a communication 10 the News and
Observer. says the present epidemic of
smallpox in this STATE was ~troduce
by railroad Iaborers returning from
Mexico. as we'll as BIZ troops returning
from Porto Rico and Cuba. and that
IL has been remarkable for it's mildness
and in it's frequent variations from the
type laid down in the text books. lie
states that the first case of smallpox
in the state was reported from Will
mington or January L.. 1898 and be-
tween that date and Nav 1. 1901. there
have been reported from various parts
of the state 1857 cases. with 112 deaths.
The first case reported from Wilson
was in the spring of 1899.
ONLY a few cases occurred in Will
mington and owing to the prompt and
efficient measures taken by our health
authorities. it was efectuallv stamped
out. The first cases hat appeared in
Whining on were brought here from
other places
SMALLPOX SCARE MEETING.
The following is taken from yester-
days News and Observer:
Rocky Mount. N. c.. January Is
Pursuant to the resolution passed by
the board of commissioners of the town
of Rocky Moun ct a meeting held last
Saturday. and the invitation to the SUI
parintendent of health and others in err
ested in the contiguous counties. a mass
meeting vas held in the Masonic Hall
of that town last Tuesday afternoon.
All the surrounding counties were rep
resented. save one. and among the
prominent men present NAV be men,
toned Drs. O'Hagan and Laughing
house and Mr.. Coward chairman of the
board of commissioners. all of Pitt
county; DrS. w. H. H. Cobb. Robinson
and Spicer. of Wayne: Drs. Ben Her
ring and Jones. and Messrs. Geo. Green.
mayor of Wilson. and F. A. Wcodard,
county attorney. from Wilson county:
DR.. L. L. Station and Mr.. w. S. Clark,
OF Edgecombe; DR.. J. P. Ba tie, and
Mr.. w. E. Jeffrevs. of Nash: DR.. R. H.
Lewis. Secretary of the Board of Health
VI liz SldlG. dlIu LIZ. 1SOI SS 1LOIiltS, OI
Wilmington, chairman of said board;
Drs. Wimberly. Whitehead. Thorpe,
Braswell and Shubtick. of Rocky
Mount; the mayor and board of COM
mIssioners of Rocky Mount and many
other prominent citizens.
The meeting was called to order by
the mayor, and Mr.. ". S. Clark, of
Edgecombe was chosen chairman. and
Mr.. E. W.. Smith, of Rocky Mount. sec
retAry- A statement o. the condition of
affairs prevailing in Wilson county was
called for. and responses made by DIS.
Herring and Jones. and also by Mr.. Geo.
Green. They reported about 100 cases
of smallpox in the town and oun Y.
and made the statement that there had
been over 1900 cases there within the
last three years: and while there have
teen some efforts put forth to check
the dreadful disease, ii seems TO have
heCn done in an unsatisfactory ann
at least so the major y of the speak
efS thought. There has been 10 gen.
eral quarantine. Nc compulsory vaccina-
fIOn. and verv Inadequate diSinfeCtio1-
Unsil recently the people would not adj
INIT hat il was smallpox at all. and
eve the doctors themselves disagreed
Hs to the diagnosis. until the expert was
sent there by the government. who at
once pronounced il undoubtedly small
pox.
Speeches were made by DIR. Lewis.
OF Raleigh: DR.. Thomas. of Whining
ton: DR.. Laushinghouse. of Pitt: DR..
Cobn. of Wayne. and DR.. Station. OF
TaTboro. and by MeSsrS. Bum. BaSsett
ara T. III. Rattle of Rocky Mount. and
others. and the action Of the Wilson
board of health. The board of county
commissioners and others in authority
Were severely criticized. and all de-
plOred the fact that thew were SEEM
ingly not alive to the importance of the
situation and had not done their full
DUTY in the matter.
'tOn motion a committee consisting
or Drs. Spicer. of Wayne: Station. OF
Eogecombe; Battle of Nash: Thomss. of
Wilmington: Lewis. OF Raleigh; Bras
well. OF Rocky Mount. and Mr.. j. T.
Eugg. OF Greene county was appoin ed
TO confer with authorities OF Wilson.
present at the meeting. and 70 formu-
late such rules and regulations as they
may see fit. looking to The proper CON-