The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-19
CASE OF SMALLPOX
IN CARBONDALE

William Thompson Aged 1s Years
of Hospital Street, Is Suffering
from Mild Attack-The Outbreak
Charged to the Visit to This City
of Archie Lewis, of Ashland, Who
Is Now a Smallpox Patient in
Jermyn.
Smallpox which has been within a
few miles of Carbondale within the
past few months, but seemed to keep
decently far away from the town, is
at last in our midst.
There is case located in the home
of Andrew Thompson on Hospital
street. The victim is William Thomp-
son. his 1S-year-old son. The case is
a mild one. the type Of the disease being
varied.
The origin of the Thompson case
is traced to Archie Lewis, of Ashland,
who is now II smallpox patient in
Jermyn. Lewis it will be recalled,
came from Ashland Il few weeks ago
to visit at the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
David Thomas. of Bacon street,
Jermyn. He also came to this city,
visiting for several days among Car
bondale acquaintances, the Thompson
house being among the places he staid.
On his return to .Jermyn he was COM
PEELED to go to Il physician to seek
treatment for headache and rash on
his face. The physician pronounced the
case one Of smallpox. Since then,
Lewis has been isolated in tent in
the borough of Jermyn.
The discovery of the Thompson case
was quite accidental. Yesterday a
physician was passing the house on
Hospital street, when he was called In
to prescribe for the sick lad. When
the doctor examined the youth, he was
struck by the similarity of the symp-
toms to those of smallpox. He was
convinced that the boy was suffering
from a mild attack of variloid.
TO be positive that the case is one
of smallpox, word has been sent to
DR.. j. W. Houser. of Scranton, the
physician who is in charge of all of
the cases in that city. DR.. Houser will
come to Carbondale today, it is expect
ed. to pass on the case.
The Thompson house has been quar-
antined temporarily by Sanitary Police
man Moffitt, who has promptly taken
every precaution that he knows to
| check the spread of. the disease
The absence of board Of health in
Carbondale at this time is deeply de-
plored. The fact that there is no board
of health, it will be recalled, is due
wholly to politics, politics that We're
condemned on every hand yesterday
when the presence of smallpox became
known. There is no board of health,
1t might be mentioned as reminder,
because the names submitted by Mayor
O'Neil have been held up in select
council, owing to the failure to obtain
pledges for the support of. a candidate
of the Office of secretary of the board.
The day after Lewis visited Carbon
dale and it was known that he had
smallpox, Il Carbondale physician gave
notice of the danger that there was of
smallpox occurring in the places that
Lewis visited. The Thompson house
was particularly mentioned and it was
suggested that the necessary precau-
tions be taken towards contining the
fably. However, there was no board
of health to take official notice of the
physician's warning. Now it will GER
tainly be hard to foretell the conse-
quences as Thompson Aad been around
a good deal with Lewis and had even
gone to Jermyn with him.
The proper thing, the thing that is
demanded, is that select council, that
is those responsible for the holding up
of the names of the appointees OF
Mayor O'Neil meet at once and take
action in order to permit of the re-
organization of the board of health
The public health and safety demand
such action as against the satisfaction
of small political purposes.