The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-03-27
Racine Physician Takes Exceptions
to Statements in Regard to Al
legged Smallpox Cases.
HARSH WORDS FOR DR.. WINGATE.
Dr. ito States That the State official is
Very Wrong in Some of His State
ments Believes In Chickenpox.
RACINE, Wis, March 19, 1902.
EDITOR KENOsHA NEWS:

RACINE, Wis, March ~, 19OZ.
EDITOR KENOSHA News:
Dear Sir-I desire through the EVE
MING NEWS to give voice to a few
expressions IN answer to some recent
remarks delivered through your paper
from DR.. W. U. @. Wingate, of Mil
waukee, regarding a certain case of
smallpox said by DR.. Wingate TO ex-
ist insyour city. Some few days ago a
number of gentlemen came to my hotel
to consult me about so-ca1led or
suspicious case of smallpox, said to be
suffering from it by one Harrington, a
bartender. demonstrated with those
men and told them that preferred not
to go as the doctors in attendance had
made their diagnosis and that should
70 they would call DR.. Wingate to re
verse my opinion should my opinion
not agree with theirs and that no good
could possibly come from such visit
as mine under existing Circumstances,
but they insisted upon my going re-
CARELESS of my protestations. | went
to Kenosha the following morning, l
was shown the patient, Mr.. Harring-
ton, whom I.scarefully examined and
my honest and conscientious opinion
was submitted, which was to the effect
that Mr.. Harrington was suffering
from severe form of chickpox, of
which disease there is now and has for
some months prevailed both here in
Racine and other adjacent cities.
I left the patient and returned to
Racine. Lam informed through the
Milwaukee Sentinel that DR.. W. u. O.
Wingate was summoned that day. He
with the local doctors examined Mr..
Harrington, all of them without
dissent pronouncing the case one of
dreadful smallpox, ordering perfect
quaren tine, at the same time deliver
ing themselves of many remarks not
at all complimentary to DR.. Kitto.
DR.. WingateEmade the remark that
any doctor with the rudimentary
knowledge of medicine should be able
t. tell that that was smallpox, and a
few more remarks to the effect that
such errorscas mine were responsible
largely for the spread OF smallpox.
Now l want to say to the citizens Of
Kenosha that do not desire to parade
before them fnys great knowledge of
medicine or diagnostic powers, nor
that am a specialist upon "smal1-
pox,' and / wish also to have them
understand that I am not medical
politician, but | do claim with but
a rudinentary knowledge of my pro-
fession, TO knowsbetter than to public
ly exposespeop1e to the contagion of all
diseases, especially smallpox, by going
to see cases of this awful disease with
out afterwards thoroughly cleansing
both myrperson and,my clothes either
by possessing two suits of clothes or
repairing, to asproper place to have my
person and clothes thoroughly disin-
fected. Did, Dir. Wingate exercise this
needed precaution? Did he not visit
Harrington, then directly visit other
similar cases gin Kenosha, then mix
with people there and then take a train
for his homes without properly disin-
fecting himself? Is it not plainly and
clearly pointed out to him as well as
all doctors that it constitutes statu-
tory crime to be guilty of not properly
exercising this precaution? Can Dr..
Wingate abolish the belief in the
minds of the people in Wisconsin that
he is super-humanly immune from
transferring contagious diseases as
we'll as warding them off from himself?
No, no, dear public, if DR.. Wingate
is or was positive that all these cases
are genuine smallpox he would GER
tain1y not have wantonly exposed
others to contagion through his &C
tions without having thoroughly as
sured himself Of his entire safety. !
credit him with that much honesty.
The fact is, he is not fully assured of
his ground.
do not desire to oppose any public
officer in his official work, nor to enter
into public quarrels with any one; but
do ask fair play, both rs Il concerns
the public as well as among my profess
siona1 bretheren.
I say to the public and TO DR.. Win
gate, this is either not smallpox or
else some one is little short of Grim.
ins1 negligence by way of exposure of
the public by very pronounced care
1essness after visiting such cases. Let
the public pass judgment.
DR.. r. A. KITTo.