Milford chronicle., 1919-12-12
A SMALLPOX SCARE
IN EASTERN SUSSEX
ONE HUNDRED CASES IN FIVE SECTIONS
RESULTS IN A QUARANTINE BEING
PROMPTLY ESTABLISHED.
BAN EVERGREEN SHIPMENT
FROM BROADKILN, GEORGETOWN, IN
DIAN RIVER. DAGSBORO AND BAL
TIMORE HUNDREDS.

With more than one hundred cases
OF smallpox raging in the lower part
OF Sussex county. and in the hopes OF
preventing the future spreading of the
disease, drastic action was taken to-
day by Chester H. Wells. State Health
Commissioner, and other officials of
the State Board OF Health. isolating
five hundreds in the county and piac-
ing general restrictions on the entire
county insofar as communication with
the outside world is concerned.
Commissioner Wells issued an order
to the Pennsylvania Railroad today.
directing that all shipments of ever
greens from Broadkiln, Georgetown.
Indian River, Dagsboro and Baltimore
hundreds be stopped entirely, and
that any shipment of Christmas greens
from other parts of the county should
not be received by the railroad with
out special permit from the health
authorities, showing that the goods
had not in any way come into contact
with the afflicted district.
Beginning last Saturday, December
1th, physicians from lower Delaware.
aided by others obtained through a
hurry cali of the State Board of
Health, began a systematic house TO
mouse search among the five hundreds
Tor cases of the disease. Wherever
they found such a case they required
that the other members of the family [
be vaccinated. In addition. the house
where there has been smallpox. the
premises will be thoroughly fumigated
and II there is still case on hand the
place will be placarded.
Refusal of the citizens to Conner
ate with the State authorities to stamn
out the disease will result in drastic
action. It was announced that viola
mons OF these efforts to prevent a
spread Of the disease might result in
! stoppage Of all communication with
me other part Of the State. Mails
would not be permitted to be deliv- !
cred in these hundreds if the people
'efuse to cooperate.
Citizens Of Millsboro held meeting {
friday night and decided to station {
'fhcials at the entrance of the town I
nd prevent any OF the "Moors" from {
ntering the place for fear they will I
ring the contagion with them.
The smallpox has been running" {
DR. several weeks in Sussex, accord +
lg to the investigations of the State i
ealh authorities. There have been D
lany cases but none have resulted S
italy. Many cases have never re- e
eiVed the care of a physician. Whole
lmilies have been attacked BY the
'athsome ailment-
Vaccination q Preventive
Commissioner Wells in speaking of g
ie value OF vaccination as a preven- II
We told OF four instances proving the g
OF physicians on this point. Z
one family four had it and a fifth ia
caped who had been vaccinated. In BY
lother family the entire circle was fo
flicted with the exception of a bow W
no went to school in another State II
here he was compelled to be vaccin- re
ed. In another family all had il
'eept woman who went to a Phila- II
'lphia hospital where she was vac "
mated prior to her operation. "
In another family all were afflicted m
IN the exception of a son. soldier vi
10 had been Vaccinated when he en- hi
ed the army. pa
The quarantine Of the Sussex hun IN
eds is severe blow to the one who
AFFLICTED. They are chiefly those tn
o are engaged IN the preparation of SCI
wreaths and evergreens for th'
Yuletide season. It has been the
wen that in preparing the holly OF
eaths if thorn pricks one of the
allpox pustules, there is a residue rel
that that is liable to infect the wa
n or woman or child who might sue
2 wreath in Philadelphia. New ha'
k. or wherever the Christmas ury
ems are sold. the
4 order that there might be an VOL
ldance of criticism, the State
lth authorities did not act upon the DIR
Imported diagnosis of Delaware
sicians, although there was no rea-
to doubt the diagnosis of these I
ical men that the disease was be
llpox. But to protect them from vice
criticism of others the health tow
iorities went to Baltimore and OBJ you
ed the services of DR.. Jones, State ice
2 College in 1889. but drouped out iron
the city Of Baltimore. DR.. Jones opel
stigatinn confirmed The frst re med
S of the Delaware nhvsiciane Rlle