Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1902-02-21
EPIDEMIC Is THE MOST SERIOUS
IN MANY YEARS.
Reporss show the Disease 70 b, H...
ing All Over the world-Is widely
Prevalent In the Middle West Health
O@cers Alarmed.

p0r Seut W Tue uuNlOec OF cases IN the ten
States, Of which Illinois is in the southern
tier. Between Dec. %, 1900, and Jan.
"a. 1901, only 1910 cases were reported
from this territory. During the similar
period which closed Jan. p, 1902, 1Q,82O
cases were reported.
The federal governments report with
the opening Of the present year show that
smallpox has invaded twenty-three coun-
tries and every Quur1er of the world. Ger.
many has been held to be the best vac
cinated country in the world, but even in
Berlin three cases Of smallpox have ap-
peared. In London the situation this
winter has been 80 serious that at one
time 1t was feared the coronation would
have to be postponed because of it.
Thus far the disease in the West and
Northwest has been mild and the death
rate has been low. But the warning is
now sounded that the disease may change
at any time to the most v~irulent type.
Already this change has come in the
North Atlantic States, where the death
rate has increased from 20 to 30 per
cent.
Epidemic IL World Wide.
In London, where the disease is 90
prevalent that smallpox insurance has be-
come popular. there were 1913 cases be-
tween May !, 1901, and Jan. 10, 1902,
and S97 were under treatn.eut on the
latter date. The death rate there is IL
per cent among those %vaccinated, 65 per
cent in cases of doubtful vaccination and
5Oh per G where there had been no
vaccination at all.
Plague ships anchored fifteen miles
down the. Thames are overcrowded and
temporary barracks along the banks Of
the river to accommodate 500 patients
are being erected.
Reports received from large cities in
various sections of the United States
show that the present smallpox epidemic
ls more severe than any which has visited
them for years. In New York Commits
sioner Lederle's figures place the death
rate at % per cent of those afflicted. In
January there were 1874 cases of small
pox, twenty-six Of them being fatal. In
Connecticut and New Jersey whole VIII
lagos are swept by the disease, and it is
widely prevalent in Pennsylvania. In
Philadelphia since the first Of the year
there have been 544 new cases Of small
pox and ninety-nine deaths. AT present
M oA01APOA lUVH'lllS NIe uluGr lTeuI-
ment at the municipal hospital and in
private dwellings. In Pittsburs the NUM-
cipal hospital contains only six cases
of smallpox, but in the boroughs and
townships adjacent to that city twenty
five cases have been reported within the
last few weeks.
Smallpox is prevalent, but not epidem.
tc, in st. Louis. there being about $50
cases ut present. Health Commissioner
Starklof of that city says the disease
was brought there by soldiers returning
from the Spanish American war.
Out Of eighty-one cities and towns IN
Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin,
thirty-eight report that they are at pres
ent free from smallpox. Less than a
dozen, however. state that they have not
had cases during the winter. In nearly
every instance there have been cases in
the surrounding country districts. OF
twenty-five Iowa towns and cities, five
report that they are free of the disease.
OF thirty Wisconsin towns, seven say
that the disease has not appeared there
or has been stamped put. Fourteen out
Of twenty -four cities and towns in Mich
igan claim either never to have been in
fected or to be free OF contagion ut pres
ent. In Indiana twelve out of thirty
cities report the same thing.
Des Moines. Iowa, admits 21O cases.
Chicago officials who visited there place
the number from 400 to TOO. Sioux City,
Iowa, had 800 cases during the winter,
but asserts that only sixty exist now.
Other cities report from thirty-tve to half
a dozen or less. These reports show that
the disease has gained a foothold in q
wide belt.
Crusade Against the Plague.
The Chicago health department, headed
by Commissioner Reynolds and Chief
Medical Inspector S%palding. is making a
crusade against the disease. 1t aims to
stamp out smallpox in n territory en-
bracing 100000 square miles and con-
tanning a population Of 25.O00,O00 peo-
pie. In line with this plan the medical
and surgical staffs of seventeen railroads
entering Chicago have been enlisted. A
campaign of education is to be inaugural
ed and every effort made to arouse au-
thorities of negligent. towns and cities
from their apathy.
Unless smallpox is checked said DR..
Reynolds, "a panic Of death may sweep
Nv SO"AeAys 4ulS lS uOL u 6CuCC 6IulG.
ment. 1t is plain truth. The people
should become aroused to the. situation.
This danger should and must be averted
by the employment of every precaution in
every infected district.
'If there is cooperation and determin-
ed effort the disease can be swept ont Of
the middle West within thirty days. But
If there is not widespread and united eff
fort the disehse will run from four to
ten years.
"The disease in Illinois and the adjoin-
ing States may change to the most VIC
lent type at any moment. No one can tell
why the type Of disease changes or when
1t will change"
During the early period Of the spread
Of the disease the death rates in Mas
sachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York
were "a. IL and II per cent respective
~. Had the same increase in the dead
illness Of the disease been felt in the
territory adjoining Chicago and Illinois
there would have been 2O77 deaths from
smallpox during the last six months of
1901. As It was there were 200 deaths.
49, q H~R