Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-28

pox and which had been protected with
which had not been visited by small
the greatest difficulty last summer,
when the disease menaced the entire
city. warnings were again issued to
vaccinate. This advice was repeated
later, and now is again repeated. We
have II cases in the city and small
pox prevails in Moline and Davenport
to the same extent. In Moline a high
school teacher is under quarantine,
commissioner of the city government
is under quarantine with two cases in
his family and millionaire's daughter
| fell a victim to the nread disease. The
expenses are said to have been as
much as my bill for over 100 cases,
which Commissioner Rudgren has held
up while allowing others that are IL
legal, extortionate and unauthorized
by me.
Items Corrected.
1.-THE following appeared in a recent
newspaper article: Commissioner
Rudgren stated that he did not believe
when a person had several little PIN
pies on his face that three doctors
should be called in and a consultation
held. He said that such cost the city
additional money l do not believe
that Mr.. Rudgren made such a state
ment but the item was accepted by
some readers as correctly stated and !
used as an excuse to protest against |
those having mild cases of smallpox
being quarantined. Regarding several |
little pimples,' if they are early small /
poX sores which resemble pimples, il |
is of the greatest Importance to recog- |
niZe them and prevent its spread. A |
mild case may cause a severe case, or
an epidemic An epidemic causing |
over 5000 deaths was started by such
a case. BY just such case was the
epidemic of 101 cases last summer
started. Such cases started the pres
ent furry of smallpox. Regarding
the expense of consultations to the.
city. no such expenses were authorized
by me. The only consultation called
was paid by the state. This was when
one of the early cases last year found
in my house to house campaign
Two prominent Moline physicians dis
puted my diagnosis. Mr. Hart called
the chief smallpox inspector of the
state of Illinois, whose expert opinion
W dS lA4dl Was Ii6ul the llBHI OIL
recent events there is probably no
more doubt in the minds of intelligent
patients among those early cases that
hey had the dread disease in the mild
iorm, which can be easily mistaken by
physicians, but at that time l was OPP
posed strongly and even threatened.
The work of the health department
s not easy when done right. 1t is not
,asy TO force ones way into the house
# a man who threatens to knock your
block or and root OUT cases. 1t is
lot easy to work every night until
arly morning for month at a time,
Is | have done for weeks, and for {
hree months straight last year.
smallpox is not the only disease that
hreatens to become epidemic IL al
owed to go unchecked.
Scarlet fever also began to spread III
asst week. Several cases came in from
he upper end OF town, and nowhere
lse. A sharp investigation revealed
hree cases not reported at all. max
1g a total of ten cases. Thus may
mild scarlet fever be overlooked and
pread.
The Isolation Hospital.
ROCK lslano mas the best Isolation !:
ospital, usually miscalled pest /.
ouse,' / have ever seen. A few hun
red dollars would put it in fine shape
he site is beautiful, located at the
-ater's edge opposite Suburban island Q
he new factory district is improving I
he neighborhood. and our next door
eighbor is the new and prospering
ridge and Iron works. Most OF the y
uman riff-raff that gave the neigh II
orhood a bad name and made II nee ~
ssary for a physician to go there "
rmed. has moved away. A few re- =,
ain and should be forced to follow :;
lem. leaving a nice location for homes 81
honest workingmen. The city's
-operty should be cleared and fenced -.
and a good man and wife allowed u
live upon it as caretakers. and as ~
nallpox nurses when needed. At -
esent the guard and male nurse is '.
lillian Nickel. an old and respected
lien who undertook this work as a -.
yor TO me, and he has handled a