Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-10-28
Reports of Fever in Lexington
Greatly Exaggerated

The people of this community
were startled last Friday by pub
lished reports in the Richmond and
Baltimore papers that an epidemic
of typhoid fever prevailed in Lex
ington and that many cases were
reported from the Virginia Mill
tary Institute and Washington
and Lee University. The basis for
these greatly exaggerated state
ments was reported interview
with DR.. Paulus A. Irving, secre-
tary of the State Board of Health,
Richmond, who was in Lexington
last Tuesday, called here on account
of the presence of typhoid fever.
The opinion as expressed by DR..
Irving, according to the papers,
was that the cause of the fever
here was due to the condition of
the drainage, which he is reported
to have said consisted only Of
surface drainage.
DR.. A. d. Estill, health officer
of Lexington, yesterday received a
letter from DR.. Irving, in which
he denies having made the state
ments attributed to him in the
Richmond papers, and complains
of the unjust criticisms by news
paper correspondents of Lexing-
ton. He says, however, that he
stated to a News-Leader reporter
chat the sanitary conditions in
Lexington were not good"
There are a number of cases
of typhoid fever in Lexington but
the disease is not considered cpl
demic. According to DR.. Estill,
the health officer, it is endemic, that
is to say, there are cases in
number Of homes of the community,
but not to any alarming extent.
With single exception, that of
Student White who died Satur-
day, all the cases have been ex-
tremely mild.
The doctors ofLexington are now
visiting in town 40 patients who
have had fever. Of this number
10 are convalescent, leaving only
81 cases of fever. These numbers
include the cases at the Virginia
Military Institute, which are all
favorable.
The authorities at the Virginia
Military Institute, becoming, it Is
thought by many, unduly alarmed,
furloughed the corps of cadets for
thirty days. Following is the order
of General Scott Ship, the super
intendent, and published Friday
morning at breakfast roll-call:
Gin consequence of the state of
apprehension existing in minds of
cadets and of parents Of cadets by
reason of the number Of cases Of
sickness in the Institute and
vicinity, and in response to urgent
applications of a large number Of
parents, leave of absence FOR thirty
days is hereby granted to all
cadets"
The cadets at once left for their
homes. Many of those living in
distant States accepted invitations
from their friends in Virginia and
nearby States, who're they will visit
until the re-opening of the school.
The situation at Washington
and Lee University differs from
that at the Institute. The students
board all over town in private
homes. The officers of the Uni
versity, seeing no cause for alarm,
did not seriously consider the
question Of closing the school. The
following statement was issued
Friday to the students by Presi-
dent Denny:
ON view Of certain newspaper
publications it is deemed proper to
say to the student body that, In the
Judgment of the University autho-
rites, there is no sound reason for
alarm with reference to the present
health condition in this COM
munity.
at is true that a number of
cases of typhoid fever, nearly all
of mild type, developed in Lex
ington some days ago, and several
among students Of ehe university,
all of which, with one exception,
are very mild type.
"The town authorities have
taken expeditions action, and SC
far as known, only one case has
developed since October 10th.
"Considering the fact that there
is a population of over four thous-
and in this community, this is not
considered discouraging, but rather
gives reason TO believe thas there
Is no special ground for apnrehen-
sion. ~ > =
For several months past the
Lexington Board Of Health, DR..
A, D, Estill, chairman, have been
devoting their time and attention
to the situation in Lexington.
Measures have been taken and put
into execution of thoroughly clean
ing the town. From time TO time
inspection has been made to see if
the orders have been carried out.
Lexington has Q good sewage
system, possibly snpsrior to ANY
town Of similar size in the State.
There are about seven miles of
under ground sewers, The public
buildings, hotels, boarding houses,
and monv nrivafe hOmes have