Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-18


Prevalent in the Middle West Health
| Officers Alarmed.
An over the world an epidemic of
smallpox more serious than has occurred
for years is raging. Medical experts no
longer conceal their apprehension and as
sert that only by widespread unity of ac-
ton can further contagion be avoided.
smallpox now is more widely spread
IMAM at any tine for dozen years. Dur
ing 1901 there was an increase OF Oil
per cent in the number of cases in the ten
States OF which Illinois is In the southern
tier. Between Dec. 2S. 1900. and Jan.
"a, 1901, only 1910 cases We're reported
from this territory. During the similar
period which closed Jan n 1902. 1880
cases We're reported.
The federal government report with
the opening of the present year show that
smallpox has invaded twenty-three coun-
| tries and every QUAKER OF the world Ger
many has been held to be the best vac
cinated country in the world, but even in
| Berlin three eases of smallpox have APP
peared. In london the situation this
| winter has been so serious that at one
tine it was feared the coronation would
have to be postponed because of il.
| 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 yirulent type.
| Already this change has come in the
North Atlantic States. where the death
rase has incrI asei from 20 to 30 per
cent.
Epidemic Is World Wide.
In London, where the disease is so.
prevalent that smallpox insurance has be-
come popular, there were ). 723 cases be-
tween May ], 1901, and Jan. 10, 1902,
and S97 were under treatment on the
latter date. The death rate there is II
per cent among those vaccinated, 90 per
cent in eases OF doubtful vaccination and
5ola per cent where there had been no
vaccination at all.
Plague ships anchored fifteen miles
down the Thames are overcrowdcd 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
is more severe than any which has visited
them for years. In New York Commits
| sioner Lederle's figures place the death
| itte at % per. cent of those afflicted In
| January there were 134 cases of small
! pox, twenty-siS- 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
1 q, l., = 4
| poX and ninety-nine deaths. At present
| 4si3 smallpox patients are under treat
| n1ent at the municipal hospital and in
private dwellings,. In Pittsburg the NUM-
clpal hospitall contains only six cases
OF smallpox, Tut 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-
| ic, in st. Louis, there being about 80
| cases at present. Health Commissioners
| Starkloif OF that city says the disease
was brought there by soldiers returning
from the Spanish-Ameriean 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 4
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. or
twenty-five Iowa towns aud 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 out. Fourteen out
OF twenty-four cities and towns in Mich
igan claim either never 10 have been in
feeted or to be free of contagion at pres
ent. In Indiana twelve out Of thirty
cities report the same thing.
Des Moines, Iowa, admits 30 cases.
Chicago officials who visited there place
the number from 400 to ZOO Sioux City.
Iowa. had 800 cases during the winter.
but asserts that only sixty exist now.
Oiher cities report from thiIty-hyc to half
dozen or less. These reports show that
the disease has gained a foothold in
wide belt.
Crusade Against the Plague.
CHE Chicago health department, headed
by Commissioner Reynolds and Chief
Medical Inspector Spading, is making n
crusade against the disease. Ii aims to
stamp ont smallpox in a territory en-
bracing 100000 square miles and con
tanning a population of 25.00O,000 peo-
pie In line with this plan the medical
ami surgical stats OF seventeen railroads
entering Chicago have been enlisted. A
campaign OF education is to be inaugural
ed and every effort rAade 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
the country. This is not scare state
ment. 1t is plain truth. The people
should become aroused 20 the situation.
THIS danger should and must be avertcd
by; the employment Of every precaution in
every infected district.
If there is corporation and determin-
ed effort the disease can be swept out Of
the middle West within thirty days. But
il there is not widespread and united ef-
fort the disease will run from four to
ten years.
@The disease in Illinois and the adjoin-
ms States may change to the most yi0-
lert type at any moment. No one can tell
wlsy the type Of disease changes or when
it swill change"
During the early period or the spread
Of the disease the death rates in Mas
saehusetts. Pennsylvania and New York
wCre Ga. Il and II per cent respective
~. Had the same increase in tbe dead
Inlss Of the disease been felt in the
te9itory adjoining Chicago and Illinois
there would have been 2.07T deaths from
smallpox during the last six months Of
1881 As il was fhere were 200 deaths.
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