The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-14

the Disease Is Not Necessarily
Fatal one-Poor Board Decides to
Quarantine Hillside Home and to
Have Inmates Vaccinated.
Every precautionary measure that IL
is possible to take is being taken by
the health authorities of this city to
prevent the smallpox epidemic now
raging in Pittston from spreading here.
Steps are also being taken to properly
care for and handle any cases which
may break out within the city limits.
DR.. w. T.. Allen. superintendent of
the bureau of health, when seen yes-
terday afternoon by IL Tribune man
said:
"There are not many precautions to
be taken just at the present time.
We're going to insist that every
child who attends school shall
either have been vaecinated or shall
have had smallpox before. have or
dered the local laundries to take no
more laundry packages from Pittston
or its immediate vicinity, and / advise
our citizens to keep as far away from
that there is very little that can be
done at present.
II am hopeful. that smallpox will
not develop in this city, but it will be
rather remarkable If it does not. Our
present immunity l trace largely to the
fact that nearly ALI the school chill
dren and q large percentage of the
adults have been vaccinated during the
past year or more. l am inclined to
believe also that our action in prohb-
iting the running of excursions from
down the valley this last summer had
the effect of keeping away from this
city many persons with whom it might
have been dangerous for our citizens
to come in touch with.
BAD FEATURES OF IT.
THE bad features of the present epi-
demic in Pittston is the fact that the
main roads leading from that city to
this are all thickly settled. Where one
settlement ends another begins, and to
all intents and purposes, all comprise
one city"
When asked to say something about
the disease itself, the doctor said:
THE impression prevailing among
Tie VI pcOplc tHdl
is almost always a fatal disease is
an erroneous one. The percentage of
deaths to a given number of cases of
smallpox is much lower than the per-
centage of deaths to given number
of cases of scarlet fever, diphthera
and many other diseases. There is no
reason why smallpox patient if
given good care and treated by h COM
petent physician, should not recover.
unless unforeseen complications arise.
Smallpox. however is IL loathsome
and a filthy disease and it is for this
reason that it should be dreaded.
ut can be contracted only by direct
contact. The first symptoms do not
generally show themselves for about
twelve days after infection. These
symptoms are generally severe pains
in the back and head which last for
about twenty-four hours, and which
are followed by twenty-four hours of
apparently normal health.
Small pimples then begin to form
on all parts OF the body and these turn
into water blisters or vesicles in day
or two. These yesicles then become
filled with pus. and this is what pro-
duces the most disa greeable part of the
disease"
ABOUT THE RAILROADS.
DR.. Allen has been in consultation
during the past few days with the SUI
perintendents OF some of the railroads
entering this city, and it is understood
that IL the disease spreads much more
in Pittston, he will request that no one
be permitted to take a train for Scran-
ton from that city who cannot pro-
duce II certificate from the health au-
thorities showing that he or she has
not been exposed to contagion 1t is
believed that the railroad officials
would heartily cooperate in the carry
ing out of this plan if it should be-
come necessary to put it in force.
The proprietors of one of the largest
department stores in the city have
given orders to all their employees that
they must be vaccinated this week or
lose their positions.
At a special meeting of the Scranton
poor board, held last night in the office
of President Brooks, ii was decided to
quarantine the Hillside Home and vac
cinate the inmates. A committee, COM
prising Directors Paine, Shotton and
Fuller and Superintendent Beemer pre-
pared and presented the following
resolution, covering the matter, which
was unanimously adopted;
Resolved, That immediate steps be taken 10
procure sufficient quantity OF virus to vaccinata
all the inmates, employees and attendants OF the
Hillside Home and that the superintendent and
| resident physician he directed TO see that this
| action is Immediately carried out and be il fur.
ther
Resolved,