Tag Archives: Indianapolis Journal

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LVII

CASE OF SMALLPOX

The Cause of a Call for a Special
Council Meeting.

President Crall, of the City Council, ordered a special meeting of the Council for Friday night to make up the ordinance appropriating $1,000 to the City board of Health, to be used for a contagious disease fund. This sudden action was necessary as a new case of small pox was discovered in the city yesterday and reported to the Board of Health. Charles J. Durand, a paper-hanger, living at 1125 Nelson street, is the patient, and he lives with his wife at that number. He has not been in contact with anyone having the disease and the Board of Health is at a loss to account for his affliction. Durand will be removed to the contagious disease pavilion at the City Hospital and his home will be quarantined.

“Case of Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 5 April 1900, p. 8, col. 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 February 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LVI

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No Danger from Smallpox.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
A large number on inquires have come to me of late from prospective students at the State Normal School in regard to the smallpox situation in Terre Haute. These letters, received from many parts of the State, show that greatly exaggerated reports have got out in regard to the number of cases of the disease in this city. One writer wished to know when the city of Terre Haute will be released from quarantine. Another says it is reported in his county that we have six hundred cases here at present. Still another wishes to know if it is true that a person can stand on the front steps of the State Normal School and count sixteen red flags. A letter just received says that just as the writer is starting, with her trunk packed, to come to school, she hears that there are so many cases here it is wholly unsafe to set foot inside this city. These and other letters of similar tenor show that there is a very erroneous impression abroad in regard to this matter. The facts are as follows: Since Jan. 1 we have had about thirty cases of smallpox and varioloid in this city. It has prevailed in so mild a form that some of the physicians even have doubted whether it was really smallpox. No case has proved fatal, and only a few have been serious. The Board of Health has dealt with the matter in such a thorough manner as to prevent the spread of the disease, and it has now practically disappeared. My understanding is that there are now but two red flags left, and that the persons quarantined in these houses will soon be released. All pupils of the public schools that have been out, owing to their refusal to be vaccinated, are to be readmitted on the opening of school next Monday, and the students of the Normal School are no longer required to be vaccinated. In other words, the disease has practically run its course here and is at an end. The Board of Health assures me in a letter that there is absolutely no danger of any one’s contracting smallpox in this city at this time. The State Normal School opens its spring term to-morrow morning, and the indications are that we shall have as large an attendance as can be properly accommodated, over six hundred having already registered, but I wish no teacher to be deterred from coming by a false understanding of the situation.

W.W. PARSONS,
President State Normal School.
Terre Haute, Ind., April 4.

“No Danger from Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 5 April 1900, p. 3, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 3 Feburary 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LV

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Measles Epidemic at Wabash

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WABASH, Ind., April 2. – There are fifty cases of measles in this city, as reported by Health Officer Lorin W. Smith, who says the disease is spreading rapidly. Some of those afflicted with the disease are very ill.

Case of Smallpox at Peru.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
PERU, Ind., April 2., – Considerable excitement was caused here to-day by the discovery that Clarence Fetro, a freight conductor of this city, has been stricken with smallpox. The house is under quarantine.

“Measles Epidemic at Wabash,” and “Case of Smallpox at Peru,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 3 April 1900, p. 2, col. 2; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 31 January 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LIV

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Dr. Davis Now Free

Dr. J. Q. Davis, who was the attending physician at the contagious disease pavilion at the City Hospital during the recent cases of smallpox, was out for the first time in several weeks yesterday, and he says his freedom is similar to a man being liberated from prison. The members of the city Board of Health praised Dr. Davis for his diligent work during the smallpox cases.

“Dr. Davis Now Free,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 1 April 1900, p. 3, col. 1; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 31 January 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LVIII

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NO CAUSE FOR FRIGHT

Terre Haute Smallpox Situation Is
Steadily Growing Better.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind., March 27. – Exaggerated reports in regard to smallpox here are likely to have the effect of diminishing the attendance at the spring term of the Indiana State Normal School, which will begin next week. Scores of letters have been received asking about the alleged epidemic in Terre Haute. One writer asked if the city of Terre Haute had been released from quarantine. President Parsons has received the following from Dr. Rice, president of the Board of Health, which makes plain the situation:

“Nothing short of a serious outbreak would necessitate a vaccination order, and that is most improbable. There is nothing in the situation now to disturb or occasion anxiety to any one. I have written in reply to letters from several pupils that they could come for the examinations and not be molested. There are a few houses yet quarantined, but we do not apprehend any danger from them. No pupil need remain away on account of smallpox.”

It was expected the attendance at the term would number fully 1,000, especially as the rule has been made admitting holders of one year’s license, but the smallpox scare is likely to keep the number down to 800.

“No Cause For Fright,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 28 March 1900, p. 2, col. 2; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 31 January 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LVII

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IN A GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Smallpox at the Sacred Heart School,
Near Fort Wayne.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FORT WAYNE, Ind., March 26. – Smallpox has appeared at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic boarding school for girls, and health officers have placed the institution under quarantine. The patient is a Chicago woman, mother of one of the students, who was visiting her daughter when she was taken ill.

Many of the leading Catholic families of this part of the State have daughters among the pupils.

But Two Cases at Clay City.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CLAY CITY, Ind., March 26. – But two families are now under smallpox quarantine here, those of Douglas Cooprider and Wiley Luther. The quarantine is being rigidly enforced. Neighbors of these families are keeping a close watch on then, and declare that if the quarantine is violated the offenders will be severly dealt with. Close neighbors of Cooprider report four cases there. No fear of further spread of the disease is entertained. Business has fully recovered.

Another Case Near Sullivan.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
SULLIVAN, Ind., March 26 – Another case of smallpox has made its appearance near Alma Cave, in the family of George Griffith. The disease is well developed, and it is reported to be of a virulent type.

“In A Girl’s College,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 27 March 1900, p. 2, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 31 January 2015).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LVI

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Man at West Lebanon Who Was Brok-
En Out with Smallpox.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WILLIAMSPORT, Ind., March 20. – William Smart, residing about one mile from West Lebanon, in this (Waren) county, is ill at his home from smallpox. The physicians are unable at present to determine whether he is suffering from a mild or malignant form of the disease.

It is feared that the disease will be widely spread, as Mr. Smart has mingled freely with people until after the formation of numerous pustules on his person, even getting shaved in a barber shop after the disease was thus advanced.

“Man At West Lebanon Who Was Broken Out With Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 21 March 1900, p. 2, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LV

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People Averse to Disinfection

The State Board of Health was notified by Dr. Modesitt, health officer at Clay City, yesterday that he had met with forcible opposition in his effort to disinfect homes in Clay City and asked for instructions. Dr. Hurty sent instructions to Dr. Modesitt to arrest all the offenders and then to disinfect the homes.

A new case of smallpox was reported from West Lebanon, Warren county.

“People Averse to Disinfection,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 20 March 1900, p. 8, col. 1; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LIV

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Health Board Bulletin.

The monthly bulletin of the State Board of Health for February is ready to be sent out. It contains the usual tables of the mortality statistics of the month by counties, geographical districts and by cities and towns. The bulletin in speaking of smallpox says the epidemic began to recede about the middle of the month. It says: “After the work of suppression began in earnest at Clay City and in the southern portion of Clay county there was a marked decrease until by March 1 there were left only twenty-five cases in the three infected townships, whereas at the beginning of the month there were eighty cases in Clay City alone.” All the reports show conclusively that while the number of cases have decreased, the type of the disease has become more severe.

“Health Board Bulletin,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 18 March 1900, p. 8, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part LIII

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Recovering from the Plague.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CLAY CITY, Ind., March 16. – There are now only two or three cases of smallpox here and business has almost fully recovered. Traveling men who have been missing the place since the quarantine began are again making their rounds here and there is little fear of a further spread of the disease. There is only one new case this week, that of Wiley Luther, whose house was carded yesterday.

“Recovering From The Plague,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 17 March 1900, p. 2, col. 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).