Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-01-05
HAWKINS Scores
THE LEDGER
SAYS SMALLPOX SITUATION HAS
NOT BEEN TOLD OF TO LED
GER READERS.
Is THE QUARANTINE EFFECTIVE?
The Venerable Doctor Has His Say
Of the Conditions That Prevail in
the Treatment Of Mexico's
Smallpox Patients.
Is TIE QUARANTINE EFFECTIVE


10 the Edit0f OF the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo, Dec. 30, 1904 We are
under obligations to the LEDGER force
for favors shown, In giving space fol
our communication Of the 10th inst
and the little criticism by the editor
calls for a further airing of the sub
ject. We are accused Of being little
bit excited over drawing the picture
and making mountains OF mold hills,
and 10 explanation the editor says be
Is well acquainted with the situation,
that the quarantine is SO perfectly
managed thBt it is impossible for the
disease to spread, etc. We are not ex.
cited nor making mountains of mole
hills, most noble Fustus, but speaking
words Of truth in soberness.
We have gone to the trouble since
our last communication to visit some
Of the localities and make inquiries as
to the extent and cause OF the presence
Of this contageon, and what are the
facts In the case? AS many as four
teen or fifteen cases Of smallpox have
been reported in the last two months,
with two deaths, all Of them diagnoced
by the visiting physician, and these
cases widely separated.
Eight cases In the second ward, one
in the third and five or six In the
fourth, and some of these cases, II not
a majority of them the results Of The
lack of necessary precautions against
the spread of the disease.
We can give particulars II required
to do so, and Mr.. Editor, pray where
and when did your perfect system Of
quarantine take place, rendering 1t
impossible for the disease to spread.
Don'tquibble or beg the question, we
take nothing for granted, be pacific.
But then In whisper or undertone,
somebody says: "Don't make too much
noise or give the matter to the public,
II will hurt the business. The mer-
chants object to giving publicity to
this thing, It will keep the farmers
from coming TO town and we lose their
patronage in ftn
The Globe Democrat, $50 says the
Republic,) objected to the prosecution
Of the 5so5lcss Of St. Louis, saying 1t
would hurt the business Of the city. /
do not believe there is a good con-
scientious business man In Mexico
objects to an intelligent and fair dis
cussicn Of any or all means for the
general good and mutual protection Of
all the citizens, where by the possi-
bllity Of the spread OF this loathsome
scourge may be reduced TO Its smallest
minimum and any man who considers
bis pecuniary interests paramount to
the life, health and general welfare
of all our fellow citizens is self-con-
fessed misanthrop and by common con-
sent is destitute OF the nobler instincts
of an average man, and Mr.. Editor, as
we proceed In the discussion Of this
question there rises in our vision a
picture, sad and impressive and one
that lies a little beyond the range Of
the casual observer. Walk With me,
as we visit the home Of the disolate
and bereaved, see that mother, silent,
mute, accomplishing, tears testifying
as nothing else could to a mothers
grief. She watches the empty cradle
and signs for but one glimpse Of the
consoling thought that all was done
that could be done to save her darling
baby from the ravages Of this dreadful
And as we proceed to lift the
curtain, look at that other scene, to
sad for tongue or pen.- This young
woman-Miss Rutter, went like a
martyr to the stake without even the
claims Of kinship upon her. She
offered herself and sacrificed her life on
the altar Of what she considered to be
her duty and like the master died in
her efforts to rescue others and we
have hoped that she has received her
reward at the hands Of him who said;
~ was sick and ye visited me. =" Her
name should be written In letters Of
gold and set In pictures Of silver and
her name will be perpetuated long