People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1893 — SMALLPOX SCARE. [ARTICLE]

SMALLPOX SCARE.

A Rtnstieln.tr Case Taken to Her Home In Huncle. A dispatch from Munice, Ind., has the following in regard to a case of small pox, which is of local interest: “Mrs. Henry Moles and little daughter arrived home this morning from a visit to Rensselaer. The child was badly broken out with the smallpox when she arrived home, and the family is now quarantined. The girl took sick at Rensselaer and while the physicians were making a diagnosis of her case Mrs. Moles had heard from home of the dread smallpox and she slipped away from Rensselaer on the next train. When she arrived here the child was in a sad condition. Its face was covered with a veil while traveling. Dr. Leach pronounces the case of the Moles girl's the worst he ever saw. Dr. Metcalf is here greatly censuring the Rensselaer doctor who permitted Mrs. Moles to escape them, She traveled via the Monon railroad to Indianapolis and then by the Big Four to Munice.”

Mrs Moles and child were visiting at Dr. Horton’s, Mrs. Moles being an aunt of Mrs. Horton. Last Friday the child broke out and Dr. Washburn was called in. The mother of the child said that there were a number of cases of chicken pox in Muncie and that she was satisfied that this was what ailed her child. The doctor 'treated her for this disease, but as the symptoms developed his suspicions were aroused and when dispatches from Muncie spoke of the breaking out of the smallpox there, the physician prepared to diagnose the case, but while doing so the mother boarded the train Monday night and left for Muncie. The child was under the doctor's care here four days. But few persons were exposed to the disease and the physician thinks there is no cause to be specially alarmed as all precautions have been taken to prevent a spread of the disease. It would be a good plan, howeverj for all those not already vaccinated, to have it done as a precaution. The state board of health requires this to be done in emergencies like the present. “The disease is fatal in but few cases,” said Dr. Washburn, “and need not be in any.if properly treated. Ten cases of diptheria and Scarlet fever prove fatal to where one of smallpox does. After exposure a case should be manifest in from ten to fourteen days.” Dr. Alter, the county health officer, says he can do noth ing in the way of restricting Hi’S ‘ liberty of those who have been exposed to the disease until at least one case breaks out. He advises vaccination and urges upon all to attend to the matter at once, although he does not apprehend any special danger from t\Y5 Moles’ case.