The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-13
BELOIT DENIES 1T.
Mayor of the City Says There is
No Smallpox There.
Reloit. Kan. Jan. 13.

Beloit, Kan, Jan. Is.
To the Editor of the State Journal:
l notice in your paper of recent date
an article ON the smallpox situation in
Mitchell county. under the heading 'Dr.
Battey Resents It," in which the doctor
is made to say that Beloit has had over
one hundred cases of smallpox in the
last twelve months, with several deaths,
one having occurred ON January from
this disease. and further stating that
Beloit's quarantine against Glen Elder
is simply for the purpose of stealing the
trade of Glen Elder.
To people who are well acquainted
with DR.. Battey, it might not be neceS-
sary to make reply to his charges, but
to outsiders the prefix of Dr. to his
name might seem to give his statement
some weight So we answer: Beloit
has not had case of smallpox in TWEEN
ty years.
Reloit quarantined against Glen Elder
only after having been assured by sew
era1 respected citizens including two of
her most reputable physicians, that
smallpox was epidemic in their town,
and after their conscientious and most
efficient postmaster had commenced
fumigating and disinfecting all mail
matter originating at that office.
Beloit simply did her duty and has no
apologies to make. Not merchant in Be
lott wishes to make capital by reason of
Glen Elders misfortune. The good peo-
pie of our sister city have our deep
sympathy in their troubles resulting
from this unfortunate visitation. They
are now heroically working to stamp it
out. Drs. SpeSsard and Borst have done
noble work since the first case came
to their notice to quarantine and stamp
out the disease until DR.. BorSt was
stricken with it himself. DR.. SpeSSard
stiH remains on deck and with the earn
est supervision of our efficient county
health officer, Mrs. NJ ]. Lobdell, M. D.,
and the hearty cooperation of our
county commissioners, hopes to have it
under complete control in the near fu-
ture. There have been no fatalities SO far,
and it is hoped there will be none. The
town was unfortunate that the first
cases of the disease fell into the hands
of seemingly incompetent physicians
who denominated it the Cuban itch or
chickenpox, and no attempt was made
to check it and the most these doctors
will admit now is that it may be mild
form of varioloid or something like il
1t is now confined to Glen Elder and its
immediate vicinity. The two east tiers or
townships in Mitchell county without
a single case of smallpox, and but one or
PHYSisTANs TEsTIFY. ~
State of Kansas, Mitchell County,
gssRsr and Mars y obae b aG@e adh
by me first severally duly sworn accord
ing to law say that t9e h are are PTfafB eInfg
Mitchell county, Kan, and who for years
last past have engaged continuo9 Us N n
city, and in said Mitchell county, and adj
Affiants (each) further say that they
have not known nor heard of the exist
ence within the last 20 years of so much
as single case of smallpox in said city
nor in any neighboring township.
F. NJ. DAILY,
E. n. DANIELS,
D. S. O'BRIEN,
E. E. BREWER
F. b. HOME,
A u. SEAGER,
NJ J. LOBDELL.
Subscribed in nv presence and sworn to
by said F. NJ. Daily. e. n. Daniels, D. S.
O'Brien, E. E. Brewer, F. b: Home, A
II. Seager and Mary J. Lobdell, severally,
before me this 18th day of January, 1902.
w "A. CREITZ,
(SealO Clerk of the District Court of
Mitchell County, Kan.