The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-16
SMALL P0x SCARE MEETING.
Further Details of tho Called Meeting Held at
Rocky Mount

tSpeCl2l 10 News and Observer
Rocky Mount, y. c., Jan. 15.--PGrsrant
TO the resolution passed by the Board of
Commissioners Of the town OF Rocky
Mount, at a meeting held last Saturday
and the invitation to the superntend-
cnts Of health and others interested in
the contiguous counties, a mass meeting
was held in the Masonic Hall of that
town last Tuesday afternoon All the
surrounding counties were represented
save one, and among the prominent men
present may be mentioned Drs. O'Hagan
and Laughinghouse and Mr.. Coward
Chairman Board of Commissioners. all OF
Pitt county; Drs. w. Fl. H. Cobb Robin
son and Spicer. of Wayne Drs Ben Her
ring and Jones, and Messrs. Geo. Green.
mayor of Wilson and F. A. Woodland.
county attorney from Wilson county; DR..
l.. l.. Station and Mr.. ". S. Clark. of
Edgecombe; DR.. J. p. Battle and Mr. W
f. JeffreyS. of Nash; DR.. f. H. Lewis,
Secretary of Board of Health CT the State
and DR.. Geo Thomas. of Wilmington,
chairman of said board; DrS Wimheriy
Whitehead. Thorpe, Braswell and Shu-
brick, OF Rocky Mount: tho mayor and
board of commissioners of Rocky Mount,
and many other prominent citizens
The meeting was called to order by
the mayor. and Mr.. W. s. Clark Of Edge
combe, chosen chairman and Mr. l.. ".
Smith, of Rocky Mount, secretary.
statement of the condition of affairs pre-
vailing in Wilson county was called for.
and responses made by Drs Herring and
jones, and also by Mr.. Geo. Green They
reported about 100 cases of smallpox in
the town and county, and made the state
ment that there had been over 800 cases
there within the last three years: and
while there have been some efforts put
forth to check the dreadful disease. it
seems to have been done in an unsatis-
factory manner, at least so the majority
OF the speakers thought. There has been
no general quarantine, no compulsory vac
cination, and very inadequate dsinfec-
ton. Until recently the people would not
admit that it was smallpox at all, and
even the doctors themselves disagreed as
TO the diagnosis, until an expert was
sent there by the government. who at
once pronounced it undoubtedly smallpox.
Speeches were made by DIR. Lewis. Of
Raleigh; Dr. Thomas, of Wilmington; DR..
Laughinghouse. of Pitt: Dr. Cobb. of
Wayne, and DR.. station. of Tarboro and
by Messrs Bum, Bassett and T. Fl. Bat
tie of Rocky Mount. and others, and the
aetion of the Wilson Board of Health, the
board of county commissioners and others
in authority were severely criticised, and
all deplored the fact that they were seem
ingly not alive to the Importance of the
situation and had not done their full
duty in the matter.
On motion a committee consisting of
Drs. Spicer, of Wavne; Station, of Edge
comte Battle. of Nash; Thomas, of Will
mington; Lewis. Of Raleigh; Braswell. of
Rocky Mount and Mr.. j. T. Sugg. of
Greene county. was appointed TO confer
with authorities of Wilson. present at
the meeting and TO formulate such rules
and regulations as they may see fit, look
ing to the proper control and stamping
out OF the epidemic in Wilson county.
Later the committee appointed above
got TO gether and drew up rules and regu-
iations in regard to the proper quaran-
timing Of exposed persons and disin-
lection Of premises. aud also recommend
ing a system of compulsory vaccination
and other methods approved by the best
Known authorities and experts in the
country. These were given the Wilson
representatives Will, power to lay them
before the Sanitary Boards and Commits
sioners of their town and county to be
acted upon at once.
Failing to get prompt and vigorous ae-
ton by them will neccSSitate the sur
rounding towns and counties taking ac-
ton to protect themselves in the mat