The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-02-05
Smallpox In \
The Village

A furry Of excitement overspread
Medina this week when it was learned
4 that smallpox had been discovered in
the town. The first case reported
was that Of Mary Humphrey, daugh-
ter of G. A. Humphrey Of 536 South
} Elmwood street. Subsequently a
younger brother was taken down with
it, then the mother. All three cases
have been pronounced not Of the NAL
ignant type and the patients are re-
spending to treatment.
The circumstances so far as can be
learned are these. Mary Humphrey
OF Wooster, a relative of the local
Humphrey family, has been spending
the past two weeks here and returned
to Wooster less than a week ago.
Wooster has just been having severe
run of smallpox. The Wooster girl,
according to Health Officer Loehr of
the latter city, spent one day in school
after her return from Medina, when
she was striken with the disease.
While in Medina the Humphrey girl
spent considerable time in the schools,
even assisting in the work of domes-
tic science class. For time also she
assisted Mrs. Addie Miller in the lat
ter's hair-dressing parlors on South
Court street.
Immediately upon learning that the
disease had been detected in Medina
and that the schools had been exposed,
Supt. Edmund directed that the school
be closed and the rooms and school
books fumigated. This was Tuesday
noon and they were ordered closed un-
til Thursday morning, when each pu-
pie would be required to report with
a certificate showing that he or she
had been vaccinated. The following
day it was decided to close the schools
at least until Monday AS further
precaution, Mayor Randall, not only
upon his own initiative, but acting
upon the advice of the local physicians
school board, clergy and prominent
citizens, directed that the churches,
lodges, theater and all places of pub
lie gathering be closed until further
notice. Also that all school children
remain at their respective homes. 1t
should be distinctly understood that
this order from the mayor goes fur
ther than request-it is mandatory.
1t is for the purpose of reducing to
the minimum the chances of the vii
lage suffering run Of contagion.
At this time there appears to be no
great need of fear, Nevertheless the
fact cannot be lost sight Of that our
people have been exposed to great
degree. How great cannot now def
initely be determined. And it be-
hooves every citizen to heartily asqui-
esce with the authorities in any and
every effort they may make to stamp
out the diseasesat the start. X. ~
Al distressing circumstance is that
the Wooster girl resides in q double
house in which the other family had
been stricken with smallpox, and
she came to Medina to escape con-
tracing the disease. Thus it will be
seen that she already had the disease
when she arrived here.
The schools and school books have
been thoroughly fumigated, Mrs. Mil
ler's dressing parlor also has un-
dergone thorough fumigation and
the other public buildings will be treat
ed likewise.
The physicians have been working
night and day to vaccinate the army
of children and adults who are besieg-
ing their offices. The doctors are a
unit in the opinion that the wholesale
vaccination will be Of great benefit to
the people of the town, whether it will
prove to have been necessary or not.