The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-01-10
SMALLPOX ASSUMES EPIDEMIC
FORM IN CITY.
FURTHER SPREAD UNLIKELY
State and Local Health Boards Take
Decisive Action to Check
Contaeion.

W Within the last few days cases OF
smallpox in the city have multiplied
to such an extent that instead OF being
merely sparodic it may be said the
disease has become epidemic The eff
forts that have been made to keep
quiet existence of the disease, in the
hope that as before 1t would manifest
itself only in isolated instances, have
had the opposite effect from that in
tended. Rumors of the most exag-
gerated and distorted sort have
reached the outside until now in some
places it is believed that Billings is a
veritable pest hole, with deaths I'M
numbered occurring daily.
True it is that the situation is seri-
GUS and bad enough, but not so bad as
represented abroad. 1t is believed
that the climax has been reached and
that henceforth there will be a rapid
abatement, as the health authorities
have the matter we'll in hand and
every precaution is being exercised to
suppress the scourge.
State Board Acts.
In response to a letter from Doctor
H. E. Armstrong, city health officer,
Doctor futile, secretary of the state
board of health, came down from Hell
ena yesterday morning. Immediately
after his arrival Doctor Armstrong,
Doctor Rinehart county health otti-
Ger, and the members OF the city ana
county health boards and other city
and county officers had a meeting.
The situation was thoroughly discuss
ed and the steps deemed advisable
were taken at once. A complete sys-
tenn of quarantining and fumigation
was adopted and orders given to the
various officers whose duty it is to see
to it that the rules and regulations OF
the state, county and city as regards
sanitary matters are implicitly
obeyed
Doctor futile advised that full pub.
licity be given the matter, as errone,
GUS impressions prevail elsewhere,
where the situation has been grossly
misrepresented and on account of the
eXaggeration practiced by those
spreading THE different reports and ru-
mors Billings is made to suffer to a |
greater extent than is just. In other |
cities smallpox has gained a foothold |
but they are forgotten in the general
sense of alarm concerning this city
now prevailing elsewhere
Statement by Mayor Foster.
To The Gazette Mayor Foster made /
the following statement this morning:
"At present there are So cases OF
smallpox in the city, a majority OF
them, it is believed, of mild type.
The pesthouse and the building
known as Mrs. Iowne's boarding
house, in North Twenty-ninth street,
between Montana and First avenues,
will be used hereafter exclusively for
transient patients. All others will
be cared for at their homes.
Doctor free, as before, is in charge
Of the pesthouse, and Doctors Kelley
and Gerhart have been given charge
Of the city cases.
''The present epidemic undoubtedly
started from the dance given by the
Yoemen, on the night OF December
%. Every case thus far reported Is
1raceable to that dance. All persons
Who have costumes or masks worn at
hat dance are urged to burn them at
'nce and make report of the circum,
stances of the case to the chief of po-
ice or their family physician. Doctor
futile, secretary of the state board OF
health, held a conference yesterday
With the city and county boards or
health, who are acting under his in
'tructions and following his advice.
Rules and Regulations.
BY direction OF the local boards OF
iealth all public meetings of every ,
ind, including church services, lodge
meetings., theatrical exhibitions, ,
ances and public funerals have been :,
orbfdden until further orders. :
"All houses where smallpox exists :
nd all houses, lodging houses, room
ng houses and other places from