The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-02-04
4 the REPoRrRR.
Athens All Right.


so many fake reports have gone out in
regard to the smallpox situation 10
Athens that we feel as II 1t were only
Justice to the inhabitants, the authorities
and the ex-5oard Of health, that a plain
statement OF the facts be given. These
reports have been circulated all over the
state, to the great detriment OF all bus.-
ness as we'll as social affairs In the town.
Why should IL be considered necessary
TO formulate special rules In regard to
this town? Why should state agents be
sent among our people to spy on US and
make themselves generally obnoxious
tous? Are not our citizens lawlblding
and honest?
Have we not men In our town who are
capable to act on our local board OF
health, without being watched and r.
ported by agents sent here In the name
OF the state and at state expense? Why
is our board of health made to bear the
blame of the spread OF this disease
among our people, when II was not pre-
nounced to be smallpox, until 1t had
been for weeks In our midst?
Late In the summer and early In the
fall disease was found to be going
about among our children. IL ran
through our schools both primary and
academy for weeks and no one gave IL u
second thought. The children were not
sick and seldom lost day OF school.
The teachers when having it continued
their duties as usual. Many did not
know they had 1t until they found then
selves broken out. Nearly all doctored
at home, or where the eruption was al all
troublesome, called ut the doctors office
and got some simple remedy TO apply.
After a while two cases developed which
were called to the attention of a physi-
clan and this led to DR.. Young OF the
State board Of health being called to the
town. We presume these cases are the
ones which In late paper we're referred
10 as being "virulenth. Can 1t be called
a vlruent case of smallpox when the
patient WAS dressed and about, and as
was the case with one. gave birth In
few weeks to healthy, robust child
without pit or mark of any kind. At
this visit DR., Young pronounced 1t small
pox. We were not In position to dis
pute such authority, but as man con-
vinced against his will, Is OF the same
opinion, still, there were many In th9
town who did not believe as he said.
However our board of health at once
went to work and took the proper steps
under such circumstances. IL has been
reported that the State board has had
great difficulty 10 getting communication
with our board. This Ia not true. The
ocal board sent a written report to Dr.
Young every week and continued to act
In their official capacity, according TO
the law, and their best judgement until
they had practically stamped out the
disease.
DR.. Young told US that as cold weather
came on, the disease would increase in
8 'rverlty. At Happy Hollow" there
we're those broken out with 1t, who were
poorly clothed and barefooted, with snow
N the ground, yet they were not sick.
Infants had this same disease and ex-
cept as they were restless, did not ap
pear at all i'll. Yet we read that small
pox is most dangerous to the extremes
Of age, old people and infants, the latter
seldom living.
1t has been said that as soon as vac
cination began, the disease died down.
Well IL might. AT most conservative
estimate there have been between one
hundred and one hundred and fifty cases.
This In town of about nine hundred In
habitsnts. Not one death has resulted
10 this town, and we have yet to hear Of
any one who has been seriously Ill or
whose case VAS considered critical.
II this Is the smallpox OF the present
Law, Is 1t not about time steps were taxi
en- to give 1t a name, 80 that the modified
form of the present date will not be
COMPOUNDED with that of the past, that
carried fear, woe and death wherever 1t
,ppeared.
Are there not other diseases that are
allowed to pass unnoticed, that are
worse than the smallpox Of Athens?
Could there be as many cases of measles,
pneumonia, or laRrippe without some
deaths?
We hope that the worst OF our small
pox scare" Is over, and we know there Is
nothing here which any one need fear,
as the town is having less sickness and
fewer deaths this winter than has been
the case for long while. DR.. Young
visited this town Jan. % and says there
is not one case left.
C. NJ. Lombard.
s. Two leading citizens of Athens
and members of the ex-Bosrd OF Health
of the town, endorse the above cemmupi-
cation. Ed.