Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-19
CHANGE DIAGNOSIS
State Health Board Representa-
tives Decide Villa Case
is Not Smallpox.
oHICKENPox IN A SEVERE FORM
Quarantine Raised Yesterday and
-. School Sessions Resumed
Today.

| -AItCI CiOScly tNdInluiIlS the patient
and. holding consultation with the
local physicians employed on the case
DR.. +. f. Baker, chief medical inspec-
tor, and DR.. j. y. Egan, secretary of
the state board of health, Saturday
evening pronounced the disease with
which Miss Corintha Wickert, stu
| dent at the Villa de Chantal, has been
afflicted for the past week, a severe
case of chickenpoX. Accordingly
| Health Commissioner DeSilva yester-
| day caused the quarantine that the
| institution has been under since Jan.
II to be raised.
The state health officers, in giving
| report of their finding, referred to
the unusual symptoms manifested by
the case in hand causing Il strong re-
semblance to ordinary smallpox and
commended the local physicians and
the health commissioner for the part
they had played in maintaining a
rigid quarantine till every doubt as
to the nature of the disease was re-
moved.
Officers Statement.
DR.. Egan, who was in the city all
day Saturday, in the afternoon visit
ed the Villa de Chantal, but declined
to render n decision till DR.. Baker.
who had been telegraphed for, arrived
from Jacksonville. In the evening
both examined the patient and the
report of their diagnosis followed.
DR.. Egan gave out the following state
ment for publication:
I'VE found the case at the Vista
ton academy to be one of chickenpox
of unusual severity. 1t would appear
from the history given by the physi-
clans first in attendance that there
were symptoms closely resembling
those in smallpox, and consequently
the precautions taken by the physi-
clans and the health officer were, I'M
der the circumstances, justified. 1t is
IL maxim with sanitarianS the world
over to quarantine, when i'll doubt,
concerning infectious or contagious
diseases. \ case of chickenpoN of
unusual severity should always put |
the physician on his guard, and when.
as is true here, there are known cases |
of smallpox in the community and |
vicinity. it is absolutely essential that |
no precautionary measures be omit |
ted to prevent the possible dissemina-
ton of the disease. This was partic-
ularly essential here, when we do not |
find Il typical case of chickenpoX, but |
one of unusual severity. The fact,
too. that the case occurred in pub
lie institution from which the disease
would be spread more readily than
from private home, and the inter
ests of public health, which are of
paramount importance, made it more
upon the physicians and
health officer tO take precautions of
the character here carried out. than
if the case had developed in private
family. The course pursued by the
attending physicians and the health
officer in this case have our entire
approval"
1t was one of those cases most diff
,uIt to diagnose. The physician first
.aIlcd in the case. as well as the ply
iician summoned into consultation by
him, can only be commended too high
V for adopting, as the law requires,
he absolutely safe course. The hard
hip of individuals or of institutions
= rs nothing compared with the wei
are Of community. and the doctor
Who. in all cases. enforces the strict
law of the state, viii always
contribute to the minimizing of the
Existence of coutagion in a locality.
t is not Il popular move for doctor
o establish quarantine in any
vent, and the doctor who sees his du-
V so clear as to adopt such course,
egardless of circumstances, is to be ,
pheld every time.
School Resumed
Today the sessions of the school at
he Villa de ChantaI were resumed
With the usual enrolment of pupils.
are was OF course taken to prevent t
Exposure of the young people to :
the patient being kept !
solated.