Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-11
VICTIM RODE
 ON TROLLEY CARS
Scores Of People in New London
 Were Exposed to Disease

Scores of people in New London were exposed to smallpox Tuesday night, when J. Edward Mitchell of Mystic, rode on Groton and New Lon don trolley cars and used the Groton ferry while going to the hospital in 1 New London while suffering from the disease Mitchell is now a patient in the contagion ward of Memorial hos anied him, on his trip to New Lon don, is also being detained.
 Mitchell is an employe of tne Mys- tic Manufacturing Go. in Mystic. For i'll, but he returned to work this week During Tuesday eruptions began to appear on his face and body and at night he consulted Dr.. Martin Small. The latter diagnosed the disease as smallpox and immediately attempted to get into communication with Health Officer COngdon of the town of Ston- ington- The health officer was not at home and would not be in until late and Dr. Small ordered Mitchell to see the health officer at his office. Instead Mitchell accompanied by his wife boarded the 9:30 Groton and don arriving there the ferry due at 1925 with Lawrence hospital as their destination. They missed con- nection with the 10.30 trolley and boarded the 16.45 car from the parade for Lawrence hospital.
 At the hospital Mitchell was sent to Memorial hospital Mitchell and his wife took the 11.15 car from Thames street. arriving at the parade at 11-SO, transferring to the Broad and Wash ington street car and then again to the Jefferson avenue line at the cor ner of Connecticut avenue and Broad street, reaching Memorial hospital at HAS.
 Mitchell explained to the hospital authorities that his case had been di- agnosed as smallpox and he was i'm ward of the contagion hospital. Health Officer Edwin c. Chipman was notified and after examining Mitchell confirm ed the diagnosis.
 Realizing the seriousness of the sit uation by which scores of people had been exposed to the disease by Mitch elPs trip to New London and to the hospitals Health Officer Chipman inn mediately started to take the neces- sary precautions. Mrs. Mitchell was detained in the ward and vaccinated anl three nurses with whom she came in contact at Memorial hospital were reva ccinated. The time of the cars on which Mitchell was passenger on his trip to the Lawrence hospital and from the Lawrence to the Memorial hos pita1s was ascertained and the cars crews were disinfected and other pre- cautions taken and the trolley cars were fumigated at the car barn by the inspectors of the health deparment.
 Health OInCer- F. w. HeWeS or Gro ton was made acquainted with the circumstances and he immediately ordered the Immigration of the ferry boat and the ferry house in Groton, while the ferry house on the New Lon- don side of the river was also fumigat- ed. The work of fumigating the ferry started about o'clock Wednesday morning and the cabins were sealed until the middle of the day
 The trolley car on which Mitchell rode from Mystic to Groton has also been ordered disinfected and the car crew vacoinated. The entries, halls and waiting rooms at both hospitals have been thoroughly fumigate.
 MT. and Mrs. Mitchell have two children, four and six years old. The ambulance was sent for the children Wednesday morning and they were taken to the contagion ward where they were vaccinated and will remain it shall be deemed advisable to re- lease them. The older of the two children attends school in Mystic
 The cars on which Mitchell rode in were all we'll filled with passengers The health authorities will make an attempt to learn who were the trolleys in an effort to take precau- tionary measures. These passengers are urged to assist in the work by re- porting to the health office and prevent a spread ow the disease in New Lon don.
 Every precaution has been taken by pr. A. M. Purdy, health officer to prevent occurrence of any additional suit of contact with MT. Mithell