St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-02-14
TEN CASES SMALLPOX
All Public Meetings Forbidden
Health Officers VIII Not Allow
Town Caucus to be Held.

In view of the many false rumors
that have been circulated regarding
smallpox in this village, The Gale
donian gives as great prominence as
possible to a correct statement OF
conditions as given by the health
officer.
There were yesterday 10 cases oi
smallpox and seven cases of chicken.
pox in this village. Three of the
cases of smallpox are in the family
of George A. Massey on Main street
as previously reported. All of these
cases are doing we'll and Mr.. Mas
sey's people have been very careful
in observing the quarantine and il
is believed have exposed no one. II
is expected Mr.. Massey's family will
be released from quarantine early
next week.
There are five cases in the family
and boarders of Fred Smiths fam
lily in the BruqeIle block and five
more people there who have had the
same exposure as the rest of the in
mates but have not taken the dis
ease. It is understood that Mr..
Smith who has the same disease
broke quarantine and went on the
streets one evening but it is not
known whether he met and exposed
any person or not. Wherever Mr..
Hartman has learned of any pos
sible exposure from the people in
this block he has ordered them to
stay at home until all danger is
passed. Many unfounded rumors
have been circulated regarding ex-
posures from these cases. The one
working the most mischief was a
story to the effect that one of the
girls quarantined with the Smith
family attended the barn dance at
Bertrand's hall last Tuesday evening
and exposed the whole party. One
public school in Waterford has been
closed because the teacher attended
the dance. There is no truth what
ever in the statement that one of
these girls or any other quarantined
person in the Brunelle block attend
ed the dance.
The baby in Reuben Morrison's
family wRo lives in thes~ Belknap
block on railroad street has had the
smallpox 1t was not much sick and
the parents did not call a physician
as they had no idea what allied it.
So some people have been exposed
from this source but they too as far
as possible to discover are kept und-
ed surveillance to prevent further
The other case is that of Myrtle
Hill, who was employed in the Nor
rison family, and who lives with her
mother, Mrs. John Campbell, in the
Caldbeck block on railroad street.
AS soon as the case was reported
every resident in the block was
placed in quarantine but yesterday
all those who had not been
exposed in any way were released
and allowed to go elsewhere and
only the Campbell family is now in
quarantine there.
Officers are on guard at the Bru-
nellie and the Caldbeck blocks night
and day so there is no danger of
further breaking of quarantine reg
llations.
Everything Closed.
When the new cases we're reported +
he health officer ordered all the I
schools in the village, the schools on
Jlay Hill and at St. Johnsbury Cen
er, the churches, moving pic /
ure shows, The Colonial, the Athe-
laeum, the Museum, the Y. M. G. A.
ooms, all fraternal lodges closed for
N indefinite period and forbade the
lolding of any social gatherings
whatever.
While the churches at st.
ohnsbury Center and at East
It. Johnsbury are not closed
eople will not be allowed to hold
ocial gatherings of any nature at
hese places or in other parts of the
own as they might be attended by
eople from the village.
On Monday DR.. Ladd of Burling- ]
on, inspector for the state board of
ealth, came here at the request of
Tealth Officer Hartman and in
pected every case of contagious
isease and confirmed the diagnosis
lade of them. He further advised {
ne health board to close the pool
0oms in town and this was done. I
he town caucus appointed for Sat '
rday of this week cannot be held. K
Some Ludicrous Notions. +
AS a result of the false stories cir /
llated some very funny things have
Perhaps the funniest t
as the act of a man whe was on
le train Monday coming from
velIs River on his way to Morris /
lie. When he heard the churches I
ere closed he declared he would !
ot change cars here and went on t
ONE by way of Newport. Travelling
en have sent to local hotels to I
ave mail forwarded because they t
lid thew understood thew would
Ot be allowed to stop here. Moth
lg could be further from the {
nth. The hotels and stores and G
Il places of business are open as
sual and people can come and go
ON st. Johnsbury as usual and
ith no more danger of exposure to $
le disease than anywhere else. The ?
uthorities are doing everything in !
leir power to guard every possible t
,urce of exposure and there is no
anger In visiting any business {
lace or hotel that is open.