Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-01-27
BRATTLEB0RO LOCAL NEWS.
CASE OF SMALLPOX
Charles A. Boyden, Teller in
Vermont National Bank, III

Condition Not Serious and Disease Not
Likely to spread-How It Was Con.
tracted Not Known.
Charles A. Boyden, teller i'm the Yer
mont National bank, Is III with smallpox
at his home on Walnut street. The an
nouncement OF the nature Of his Illness
was made Sunday morning. and the re-
port spread rapidly, but caused no sensa-
ton. Time was when the appearance Of
case OF smallpox was viewed with great
alarm. but with the modern methods OF
treating the disease people have come to
realize that IT is no worse than diphtheria
and various other diseases. Mr. Boyden
was taken i'll last Friday morning He at
tended the Universalst fair Thursday
night. although he had not been feeling
well for dav or two, and on Friday
morning he remained In bed. His physi-
clan, Or. II. l.. Waterman, was called
and noted that there were suspicious
eruptions on his face and body. on SAT-
urday morning DIR. Waterman called In
DR. II. d. Holton. secretary OF the state
board Of health and on Sunday morning
both physicians decided that the patient
had smallpox. Of the mild type known as
varioloid. DR. Henry Tucker, health
officer was notified, and he at once
Quarantined the house.
No way vas apparent for discovering
the origin Of the disease, but it was
thought probable that some infected piece
OF money had found its way into the
bank and that Mr.. Boyden had contracted
the disease by handling bills. Or. Tucker
fumigatcd the bank rooms with power
full disinfectant Sunday afternoon, and
on Monday morning he had the money
placed In tin trunk and disinfected with
formadehydc. The money in the Peo-
PIES National bank also was disnfected
at the request Of the bank officials.
Another possible source Of the contagion
was discovered on the arrival Of Miss
Gray. trained nurse from the Boston
smallpox hospital Sunday night. Miss
Gray said that there was at that time In
the hospital on Deer island n man who
said he came from Vermont. He was
"a steeraEc passenger on the steamship
Cymbric. which arrived from Europe
recently and reported a death on board
from smallpox, among the steerage passen-
gers. The physicians reasoned from Miss
Gray's story that the man might have
visited the West Dummerstou qunrries
and might have gone into the bank with
some Of the quarrymen who get their
checks cashed there. Or Waterman
wrote TO the superintendent Of the Bos-
ton hospital Tuesday for further infor
nation.
Miss Gray who Is immune and has
treated over 100 cases OF smallpox, says
she never saw more typical smallpox
CruptionS than those on MT. BoNdcn- MI.
Boyden is making a good recovery and
sits up every day. The chance that any
person at the Universalist fair was eN-
posed is very slight. as smallpox is very
mildly contagious until desquamation be-
gins. Several people have been vaccinated
during the week. but not large number.
The fact that the people view the disease
with less alarm as time advances and
neglect to get vaccinated constitutes the
real danger OF an epidemic. should the
disease get a good foot-hod in town.
The last case Of smallpox in Brattle-
horo was in November. 1901, when George
Sherwin, son Of Mr.. and Mrs H. S. Sher-
win Of Frost street. came home from
! Albany Business college ill., The lase case
I before that was that OF Miss Louise Foley.
! also OF Frost street. in February. 1894
| Miss Foley came home from Europe and
! WAS IN on her arrival In New York, but
| the nature Of her illness was not dis
covered until she reached Brattleboro
| This caused great anxiety and cxtraord
/ mary measures were adopted 10 prevent
/ the disease spreading. No other cases
/ resulted from either outbreak.