The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-01
OUT ON STREETS,
j. o. Smithmier Breaks Quar-
antine for Smallpox.
Mingles With People on the
Streets.
MIR. GREEN ALARMED.
Fears an Outbreak of the
Disease in Schools.
Grand and Majestic Theaters
Are Fumigated.

The epidemic of smallpox in the
city is rapidly assuming alarming pro-
portions though the disease is in a
light form. There are eighteen cases
now under quarantine that were re-
ported for the month of March. Three
new cases were announced by ]. D.
Pattison, sergeant in charge of the
sanitary police, this morning. One of
the patients, j.. o. Smithmier, who
boards at 305 East Tenth avenue,
broke his quarantine and has exposed
many to the disease. Smithmier was
walking about on the streets Tuesday
afternoon with a well developed case,
his hands and face broken out. He
was ordered to his room by his physi-
clan last evening and told to remain
there. This morning when the sani-
tary police went to the house to card
It for smallpox, it was discovered that
Smithmier had left the house and was
about again.
TT is very serious condition." said
Mayor VIM. Green. 81 am afraid that
we are going to have a run of this.
The school children have as yet had
no cases appear in their ranks, but I
am expecting something of the kind
to happen every minute. With so much
of it around don't see how they are
going to escape. Smithmier was walk
ing about the whole OF yesterday 1
understand. Others have or are hav-
ing it and probably exposing many of
their friends to the disease. The trou-
BILE is that many think that they have
grip or won't have it known that it is
smallpox and insist that they are sick
with the grip. Their physicians to
humor them call it grip and they are
treated for that and nothing is known
of the case at the city physicians Of
flee. This has occurred in one in
stance at least but in this case the at
tending physician did not feel that he
could call it grip and had the city
physician diagnose the case. DR..
Mitchell Immediately said that it was
smallpox and the house was so card
ed The patient did MT like it,
The Grand theater and the Majestic
are both to be fumigated while indi-
vidual rooms at Sumner and Branner
schools will be similarly treated.
1--WE have not had a case reported
from the schools YETI said DIR. M r.
Mitchell this morning. This funiga-
ton Is simply being done as a safe
guard and not becauae any cases have
arisen at either Branner or Sumner.
The only thing that 1 can say to the
public is that everyone should practice
precaution and the usual injunction
about observing the usual rules for
good health.
1.-THE present weather conditions
have nothing to do with the number
of cases. This weather is as good as
any for good health conditions. I think
that the disease was brought into To-
peka from some out of town points by
railroad men. We have two railroad
men out at the city detention hospital
now. L think possibly the first cases
were brought in from Manhattan.
They have had quite an epidemic down
there II you remember
with the city detention hospital full
IN overlooking with patients arrange
ments were made this morning for the
erection of tents on the hospital
grounds to take care of the additional
Datients. Stoves will be put in the
tents and everything will be made as
comfortable as possible. There are
nine cases at the hospital now but the
facilities of the building are exceeding
Nv limited and that small number taxes
the resources of the hospital.
The Linquist grocery store at gil