Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-02-05
The Situation Relative to Smallpox.

! The fact that Rochester, nine miles
/ away, has five cases OF smallpox in a mild
/ form does not affect Randolph particularly
unless over-timorous souls should contract
the disease, according TO the mind-cure
theory, by worrying and thinking about
it sufficiently.
Fourteen days ago the Elite Dramatic
company went over to Rochester to give
the play, "Uncle ST." and ii was accom-
panied by several Of the village people, the
total number being about thirty. The
play was followed By a dance and the
entertainment was well patronized by
citizens OF Rochester. II was reported that
Win McGibbon, who sat In the gallery Of
the hall, came down with smallpox two
days later, which he did; but this morning
W. Wall talked with John r. Upper
Of Rochester over the telephone and the
latter said Mr. McGibbon was not in the
hall that night, and no one In Rochester
who was present at the entertainment had
yet developed any symptoms Of the dis
ease.
Not to be lacking in precaution, It was
deem d best TO remove from the public
school those who were in the Rochester
party, and Scion Vail, Frank Hatch,
George Chatfield, Misses Hazel Fair banks
and Lettie Bailey were given vacation to
last until the2l days following exposure
are completed.
Miss Maud Bracket, trimmer in the
millinery store OF Mrs. T.. Il. Draper, was
also one of those who went to Rochester
with the "Uncle ST" troupe Monday she
started to go on the 1917 a. m. train to
her home in Pittsfield, Me-, but the health
officer prevented her leaving town and
She returned to Mrs. G. Il. Cushman's,
where she had been visiting since the close
Of the millinery season.
Last Thursday MIR. and Mrs. David t.
Dyer went TO Rochester, having received
news OF the illness OF Mrs. Dyer's father,
Charles Fassett. Mr.. Dyer saw the sick
man, not knowing then that he was vic
tim of smallpox, as it proved later, and
came home, leaving his wife TO take care
of her father. shortly after the nature of
Mr.. Fassett's sickness became known Mr.
Dyer was vaccinated and is now quaran-
tined in his house on Pleasant street.
The Rochester schools closed Friday for
week, and Miss Emma Moses, who
teaches there, came by train as far as
Bethel on her way home and her father,
John l.. Moses, went to meet her with q
team. News Of her approach reaching the
ears Of the health officer, he telephoned
her not to come 90 Randolph and her
father returned without her. Thereupon
Miss Moses consulted DIR. l.. M. Greene,
who saw no reason why she shouldn't
continue her journey and she accordingly
arrived on the afternoon mail train, going
at once to her home on South Main street.
The secretary OF the State Board Of Health,
DR.. Holton Of Brattleboro, was consulted
and advised that Miss Moses keep closely
to the house until 1t was certain no spread
OF the disease was to be feared from her.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. b. Gay and two children,
who also live at Mr.. Moses, left the house
before Miss Emma arrived and went TO
Fish hill, where they are staying With Mr..
Gays sister and husband, Mr.. and Mrs.
j. A. Gould.
There is at present not the slightest
prospect of a case of smallpox in town,
and only few isolated cases OF Mysteries
over it. Still an ounce OF prevention is
worth a pound of cure, and the reguls-
tions authorized by the State Board OF
Health should receive respectful consid-
Grafton. The members of that august
board may have quarantine rules at var
lance with those our momentarily inspired
wisdom would dictate, but they have had
a good deal OF experience in this business
and il is more than possibility that they
may be right after all. In the meantime
the health officer VIII receive the hearty
CO. operation OF the community and such
support as will prevent his feeling like n
distracted school master with a lot of re-
fractory urchins to keep in control