The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-02-09
.STILLSON'S
FIGURES
Report from Town Health
Officer.
SMALL POX OUTBREAK
There We're 2S Cases Of Small
Pox and II Instances
of Diphtheria.
SMALL POX OUTBREAK

The following extracts are from the
report of Health Officer Sdllson to be
printed in the coming village report:
There has been reported, during
1908, 2S cases of smallpox, no deaths
cases of scarlet fever, no deaths; II
cases of diphtheria, 3 deaths; Il cases
OF measles, no deaths; II cases of ty-
phoid fever, deaths; 81 cases of chick
en- pox, no deaths; II cases of whoop-
ing cough, no deaths; cases Of tuber-
culosis, 8 deaths; III cases and deaths
during the years of 1902 and 1909; one
case each of German measles and
mumps, without fatal results Deaths
from all causes, 1877; births, lS0
The large number Of diphlheria
cases, confined, with few exceptions,
to the Incorporated Bennington Will
age, together with two outbreaks OF
smallpox, has greatly increased the
expenses Of this department during the
post year. But the fact lLal by means
of anti-toXin the one was prevented
from spreading from house to house
and the other by prompt action kept
within guaranteed limits, IS a cause
for congratulttioo, Notwithstanding
the expenditure necessarily Incurred,
aud which will appear 10 the Select
mems and Auditors reports
In the forenoon of August u, 1903,
a workman in one Of orr largest mills
went to his home ill. Tue following
day a precautionary report was made
TO the Health Officer that case OF
smallpox might ensue. The usual
"still quarantine" was put on, --un-
fortunately not strictly obeyed be-
cause OF unbelief by those cognizant
that the case was smallpox, no ex-
posure being known; but, on Monday
afternoon, August 24Jh the eruption
became uumist kable, and full quar-
antine, under guard, Immediately en-
sued.
Beginning with August 26th r. Hal
ford Miner, NJ. D., of Rutland was
hired to take charge, and his services
continued sS days. This fact and the
erection of the hospital probably
saved six lives, owing to prompt act
ion as to vaccination, medical attend
ance and care
On November 2lst, the hospital was
closed, no deaths having occurred,
and the smallpox being "stahped
out" This fortunate condition of
things has not always followed the ex-
-ertions of health authorities in looali-
ties where there has been a like vice
spread exposure.
Under the statute which provides
that the Secretary of the local board
of health, the health officer, shall
provide suitable supply of
vaccine virus, when deemed to be
necessary by the State Board of
Health, and of quality and from a
source approved by it, and during the
existence # smallpox in any town. or
city provide thorough and safe vacci-
nation for all persons in said town or
city who may need the same" 1870
public vaccinations were made. These
were, probably, supplemented by more
than one thousand others, privately
vaccinated; which, together with the
estimated !, 500 of the two years pre-
viously, aggregates 1900 or more
than one half the entire population of
the town of Bennington. Unvaccinat-
ed school children we're excluded from
attendance on the public and paroch-
ial schools, under Paragraph 6, Sec
tion l3, Act No. 1l3, Laws of 1902,
which reads: ''In the presence of
great and imminent peril to the public
health by reason of impending pestil-
ence, it shall be the duty of the local
| Boards of Health under the direction
of the State Board, to take such meas
ures to do and cause to be done such
ans. yn9 slesSs spsh-x A.sgHtgrs lGr
tide ilgess Y - assyN Fpplic hsaHh
as the plfEaiEsssfety shall demand" 4"
The physicians were paid by the
hour, and regular sessions we're held
at the town-rooms, covering several