Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-07
GROWS MORE NRUL[N|
Statistics Show the Death Rate
From Smallpox Is Becom.
ing Higher.
Chicago Health Authorities Be.
ginning Crusade to Stamp
Out Disease.
An Alarming Increase OF the
Scourge In All the Mid.
die States.

| department is making every effort tc
crush cut smallpox in the middle west
Medical experts no longer conceal
by widespread unity of action can fur
Their contagion be avoided. Smallpox is
now more widely spread than at any
time since the great seven years pam
demic of 1879 to 1885.
! During 1901 there was an increase OF
| oil per cent in the number of cases of
the ten states, of which Illinois is IN the
southern tier. Between Dec. IS, 1900
and Jan. "a, 1901, only 1910 cases were
reported from this territory. During
the similar period which closed last
month 1880 cases We're reported.
The federal governments reports
with the opening of the present year
show that smallpox has invaded TWEEN
ty-three countries and every quarter
of the world. Germany has been held
to be the best yaccinated country in
the world, but even in Berlin three
cases of smallpox have appeared. In
London the situation this winter has
been so serious that at one time it 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 dis
ease may change at any time to the
most virulent type. Already this change
has come in the North Atlantic states,
where the death rate has increased
from 90 to so per cent.
The Tribune today publishes reports
from six states, Indianan. Illinois
Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Out of eight-one cites and towns in
Indiana, Iowa, Michigan. and Wiscon-
son, thirty eight report that they are
at present 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 from 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 Michigan claim either
never to have been infected or to be
free of contagion at present.
In Indiana twelve out of thirty cities
report the same thing
Des Moines Ia, admits 30 cases.
Local officials who visited there place
the number from 400 to 700. Sioux
City, Ia, had 800 cases during the win
ter. but asserts that only sixty exists
now. Other cities report from thirty
five to half dozen or less
These reports show that the disease
has gained foothold in a wide belt.
They show, too, that in some places
medical precautions are not being TAX
en- to prevent the spread of contagion
by the Chicago health au-
thorties has shown the same thing.
In few cities politics is held by the
health officials to be the cause which
has kept measures from being estab-
lished to protect the public health
These are the conditions the health
department of Chicago, is trying to
meet and conquer. Its crusade, headed
by Commissioner Reynolds and Chief
Medical Inspector Spalding, is aimed at
stamping out smallpox in territory
100000 square miles and
population of 25,00000O
people.
In line with this plan the medical! and
surgical staffs of seventeen railroads
entering Chicago have been enlisted. A
of education is to be inaugu-
rated and every effort made to arouse
OF negligent towns and
cities from their apathy. Where NUM-
cipal officials fail of their duty state
boards of health will be asked to inter-
fere.
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 to the situation
This danger should and must be avert
ed by the employment of every precau-
ton in every infected district.
IF there is cooperation and deter
mined effort the disease can be swept
out of the middle west within thirty
days But If there is not widespread
and united effort the disease will run
from four to ten years.
The disease in Illinois and the adj
joining states may change TO, the most
violent type at any moment. No one
can tell why the type of disease changes
or when it will change"
In Philadelphia last week there We're
nineteen deaths from smallpox. In that
city, in Boston and New York city the
death rate because of the increased
from this cause, took an up
ward jump that gave an average of 1872
per cent for the three cities-13.3 for
Boston, 1876 for Philadelphia and 27.S
for New York city.
During the early period of the spread
of the disease the death rates in Massa-
chusetts. Pennsylvania, and New York
were GA, IL, and II per cent respective
~.
Had the same increase in the deadli-
ness of the disease been felt in the ter
ritory adjoining Chicago and Illinois
there would have been 2.077 deaths
from smallpox during the last six
months of 1901. AS it wos there were
200 deaths.