Category Archives: Newspaper Clippings

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXVIII

PEOPLE COMPLAIN

Of the Guards at a Quarantined House
-Enumerator Alarmed.

People living in the neighborhood of 807 South New Jersey street, where there is a case of smallpox, have made complaint that the guards placed at the house have not attended to their duties, and instead of watching the house to prevent people entering or the inmates from leaving have spent most of their time in neighboring grocery stores. Secretary Clark of the Board of Health said last night that he had heard no complaint but he would investigate the matter to-day. He said he selected good officers to watch the house and did not believe they would neglect their duty.

Yesterday afternoon one of the school census enumerators called at the office of the Board of Health, very much agitated, because he had stopped at the house on 1220 South Senate avenue, not knowing there was smallpox in the family. He was told to be vaccinated at once. No new cases of smallpox were reported to the Board of Health yesterday.

“People Complain,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 13 April 1900, p. 8, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXVII

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Smallpox at Connersville.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CONNERSVILLE, Ind., April 12. – Casper Schmalz, of Connersville, is stricken with the smallpox. Local physicians diagnosed his ailment as such yesterday, and Dr. Hurty confirmed the diagnosis to-day. All necessary precautions have been taken.

“Smallpox at Connersville,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 13 April 1900, p. 3, col. 5; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXVI

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NEW CASES OF SMALLPOX

Arthur J. Neigher and Fred Roth Have
The Disease.

Two new cases of smallpox were reported to the Board of Health yesterday and there are several suspected cases of the disease which will be examined and diagnoses to-day. The first case reported yesterday was that of Arthur J. Neigher, No. 807 South New Jersey street. He has a wife and two children and the house has been quarantined. He refused to be removed to the contagious disease pavilion at the City Hospital. Neigher is a well driller and was exposed to the disease several days ago, when boring a well in the lot adjacent to a case of smallpox on Bates street. His case is well marked. Later in the day Dr. Buehler reported a suspected case, the victim being Fred Roth, No. 1220 South Senate avenue. Dr. C. E. Ferguson made a diagnosis of the case and found it to be smallpox. Several people living in the same house have been exposed to the disease and they have been quarantined. Roth is unable to tell where he contracted the contagion. Dr. Deitch also reported a suspected case on West Ohio street, the patient being a man named Hawkins. The case will be diagnosed to-day.

Dr. Clark, secretary of the city Board of Health, said last night that there was no occasion for alarm, as there are but few cases in the city. The Board of Health will meet this morning and Mayor Taggart will be present to hear the discussion for the improvement of the City Hospital. The smallpox question will also be taken up.

“New Cases of Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 12 April 1900, p. 8, col. 2; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXV

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Dr. Griffith and family, of Cory, are under quarantine because they visited the family of E.G. O’Brien, of Saline City, whose little child is said to have died of smallpox. Dr. Griffith declares it was spinal meningitis.

“Indiana Notes,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 12 April 1900, p. 5, col. 4-5; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXIV

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There remain but three houses under quarantine for smallpox at Clay City. The cases are those of three women, who were mildly infected and are nearing convalescence.

“Indiana Notes,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 11 April 1900, p. 3, col. 7; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXIII

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INFANT DIED OF SMALLPOX

Mother Had the Disease When It Was
Born – First Anderson Fatality.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ANDERSON, Ind., April 9. – The first death from smallpox was reported to-day. The three weeks old child of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Brown was the unfortunate victim. The mother of the babe was suffering from the disease when the child was born and in two weeks the infant developed a case.

The burial was conducted by the city health officers, under the most rigid sanitary regulations, at a late hour last night. There are but three cases in the city under quarantine, and they are of a very mild character.

“Infant Died of Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 10 April 1900, p. 2, col. 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXII

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DISEASE IN THE STATE.

Facts Contained in Reports to State
Board of Health.

Reports to the State Board of Health show the following facts concerning disease in the State during March, as compared with the previous month: Increased – Rheumatism, measles, tonsilities, influenza. Decrease – Pneumonia, bronchitis, intermittent fever, diarrhea, diphtheria, croup, typhoid fever, erysipelas, whooping cough, inflammation of the bowels. No material change – Consumption, peritonitis, scarlet fever, puerperal fever and cholera morbus. Smallpox was reported from the following counties: Posey, Washington, Greene, Marion, Clay, Jackson, Vanderburg and Gibson. There was a marked decrease of smallpox in March; until March 31 the total number of cases reported in the State was 56, as against 750 on Feb. 28.

The State Board of Health announces that the annual conference of the State health officers will be held in this city on May 8 and 9. The feature of the meeting will be a symposium on school hygiene.

“Disease in the State,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 8 April 1900, p. 3, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LXI

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MALIGNANT SMALLPOX

It Caused the Death of a Little Child
At Saline City.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BRAZIL, Ind., April 6. – The little son of Attorney E.G. O’Brien, residing at Saline City, died this morning of malignant smallpox, after having been ill only twenty-four hours. Drs. Griffith, Finch and Gantz attended the child, and they all agreed that the disease was virulent smallpox.

Two more cases are reported in the town, but it is believed the patients will recover.

“Malignant Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 7 April 1900, p. 2, col. 5; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LX

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MUST DO THEIR DUTY

State Health Board Proposes to En-
Force Laws.

At the meeting of the Indiana State Board of Health yesterday it was determined to insist in the future on the strict enforcement of the health laws of the State. Health officers will be required to do their full duty under the law, and physicians who fail to report deaths and births to the health authorities will be held amenable to the law. The board also took up the case of the two health officers who were charged with having failed to enforce the health laws. A report on the recent smallpox epidemic was read by Dr. Hurty, secretary of the board. Reports from Washington county say that out of 300 cases of smallpox only eighty-nine were reported to the board. Physicians who failed to report cases of which they had knowledge will be called to account.

“Must Do Their Duty,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 7 April 1900, p. 8, col. 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LIX

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CONTAGIOUS DISEASE FUND

City Council Provides One at a Spe-
cial Meeting.

The City Board of Health will soon be provided with a contagious disease fund in order to take proper care of the case of smallpox now in the city and any other contagious disease that might visit Indianapolis. At the last regular session of the City Council an ordinance was introduced for the appropriation of $1,000 for such a fund, and later a case of smallpox was discovered in the city. The finance committee met and decided unanimously to make a favorable report on the ordinance. A special session of the Council was held last night, and the ordinance was passed without one dissenting vote. Mayor Taggart will sign it and the Health Board will immediately be provided with funds.

“Contagious Disease Fund,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 7 April 1900, p. 3, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).