Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-21
THE SMALLPOX
SITUATION HAS
BECOME SERIOUS
There Are Many Cases Report
ed Near the City.
SCHOOL BOARDS ASKED
TO TAKE ACTION

IL lane AjIlON
County Health officer. Or. Henshaw
Sounds Warning Note to the People
All Cases are Guaranteed and
are Being Closely Guarded-The
Schools May be Closed.
Ihe smallpox situation in Berkeley
county has reached a stage where Il
mas become necessary for everybody
to exercise extreme caution TO pre-
vent the spread of the disease. While
the authorities have all of the pa-
tents quarantined. they are afraid
that strangers coming in will bring
the disease with them, and thereby
cause an epidemic.
DR.. Henshaw, county health officer.
when seen today, gave a brief history
OF the disease since ii first develop.
ed in the county, and laid particular
stress upon the importance of the
people being careful. He also urges
the school boards to have the chill
dren yaccinated or close the schools
indefinitely.
The first case to develop was that
of Charles Taylor, colored, at the
Blair quarries. Taylor came here
from Cumberland, Md, and on the
day of his employment became i'll.
He was at once isolated to a corner
OF the property, and placed in charge
of a nurse and guard.
The next cases developed at the
Security Plant. They were promptly
isolated and guards and nurses plac.
ed in charge. Following this William
Gordon, who is employed by John
Burns, who lives two miles from He'd
gesyille, became i'll. Gordon had re-
Gently visited the family of John Rid
eout, 4 miles west of the city at what
is known as the Pine Hills. He had
been working at Cumberland, Md. but
had come to the Rideout home about
election day.
A peculiar eruption developed about
his face and extended to his throat
and over his body. Other members
of the Gordon family in time con,
tracted the same disease. They were
not sick enough, however. to stay in
the house and were treated by one OF
our physicians from his office in the
city.
On Friday night DIR, Tonkin tele-
phoned DR.. w. T. Henshaw that he
suspected that Bernard Baker, who
lives about 100 yards from the Rid.
eou home. had contracted smallpox.
Baker was at once %quarantined and
placed in charge of a nurse and
guard. Harry Washington and his
family, living near N~anclevesville,
were q~uarantined on Friday,
Saturday DR.. Henshaw went to
raise the quarantine at the Blair quar-
ries, but found another man by the
name of Garfield. colored, among
those who had been confined with a
pronounced case of smallpox.
On Sunday Drs. Meyers, Clay and
Henshaw went owe the entire field
and agreed that the Rideouts aud
w dSliiAkSlOdO hdN val iOlOiN iuit Ian
er and the others were typical cases
OF smallpox in what is known as a dis
Greet form.
1T viii be absolutely necessary for
the public to join in every possible
way to stamp out this highly contag-
ious and loathsome disease" said DIR,
Henshaw.
Report promptly to DR.. Clay, city
health officer, and DR.. Henshaw, coun-
ty health officer, all persons who may
be suspected of varioloid, smallpox,
~chickenpoX or any other erupted dis
ease. Furthermore, it would be nee
essary that the various school boards
in the county to order immediate vac
cination or close the schools for an
indefinite period"
The report appearing in the Baiti-
more Sun to the effect that DR.. Hen
shaw had appealed TO Governor Glass
cock for a portion of the state mill
tia to guard the patients is untrue.
The doctor asked for tents, and they
were placed at his disposal, All OF
tho ~natients are being well cared for,