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Smallpox - 1900/1901
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Jan 26, 1900
HOTEL IS QUARANTINED
State Board of Health Takes a Hand and Stops Protracted Meetings at
Ayresville and May Order Vaccination.
A man is down with genuine smallpox near Ayersville. 14
people are quarantined at Bennett, Davenport has been bombarded by telegraph for
vaccine virus and the end may not be yet. And the whole excitement is over the
return of Cad Ayers who has been a student at Dixon, Ill.
History of the Case.
One week ago today, that is on Friday, Jan. 19, Cad
Ayres came from Dixon, Ill. to Rock Island and there took passage on the B.C.
& N. train Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock for Bennett. At Bennett young Ayres
registered at the Hotel Bennett. He remained at the hotel over night and last
Saturday morning the hotel proprietor, W. Delley, drove young Ayres to his home
six miles south near Ayresville and not far from Wilton.
Ayres Taken Sick
Yesterday morning Ayres, who had been sick several
days, was found to be broken out on the arms and the physician, Dr. Battey, of
Wilton, pronounced the case smallpox. He had his suspicions and had informed Dr.
John C. Schrader, of Iowa City, a member of the state board of health, who
arried yesterday morning and confirmed Dr. Battey's diagnosis. Dr. Schrader gave
the necessary orders about quarantining all persons exposed.
Hotel Guests Quarantined.
As a result of Dr. Schrader's orders the Bennett house
located about one and one-half blocks from the B.C.R. & N. station at that
place is quarantined and a rope is stretched along the sidewalk at the south of
the building beyond which the unwilling guests and the hotel keepers family are
not allowed to go. Caught in this quarantine are seven boarders, including Frank
Cope, owner of a drug store and formerly employed by John Harding of this city;
L.E. Kemmen, groceryman; Ed Conrad, Mr. Wingert, clerk in the Bennett bank;
Louis Dawson, grain buyer. Besides these there are quarantined W. Dilley, his
wife and two children; two hotel girls and Mrs. Dilley's
father, Mr. Leatherburg.
The quarantine was established yesterday morning and at
the same time William Templeton, the township clerk, went to Ayersville and
stopped the protracted meetings that were in progress there.
A Bennett Man Talks
Mr. Madden, who is car inspector for the B.C.R. & N
in this city, and whose home is in Bennett, when seen by a Times man today
stated that there was no indication nor great fear of the outbreak of that
disease in Bennett. "People have not yet decided to close schools and
vaccinate the children. Ayers has smallpox not varioloid."
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Thurs., Apr 26, 1900
SMALLPOX REPORTED
It Breaks Out Near Fifteenth and Brady
ELMER STROMBECK VICTIM
Disease Diagnosed as the Dread Malady and Patient is Forthwith Removed to the
Pest House
Elmer Strombeck, 22 years old, a working man, employed
on the C R I & P railway shops, is at the pest house suffereing from a
genuine attack of
smallpox.
Strombeck lived at 1522 Brady street with his sister in
one of Dr. C.T. Lindley's houses. He was employed as late as ten days ago at the
C R I & P shops in sweeping out cars, etc., and his illness is attributed to
the inhalation of car dust.
At noon yesterday, Dr. Raymond Peck was called to
attend the patient and discovered him broken out into blotches very suggestive
of smallpox. The sister of the patient several days before attributed the
disease to blood poisoning due to an injury received in the hand some time
previously.
Was Ill for Ten Days
As there has been a misunderstanding on the part of
some citizens who are complaining because the case was not called to the
attention of the proper authorities earlier, a representative of this paper
called upon Dr. Raymond Peck, who was the first one to discover the true
condition of the man and obtained from him the following facts:
Mr. Strombeck was taken sick with a severe cold and
symptoms of the grip on Sunday the 15th day of this month.
"Dr. Peck was called to see him on the following
Wednesday and prescribed for him, called again Thursday and found him greatly
improved and relieved of all symptoms complained of. He then left orders with
the patient and sister that if improvement did not continue to notify him at
once. Not hearing from the patient he concluded that his services were no longer
needed and dropped the matter from his mind. That was the last he heard from his
patient until 12 o'clock yesterday noon, nearly six days after his last visit,
when his sister telephoned that he was not so well and showed new symptoms.
"Eruptions first broke out Dunday morning and it
was almost four days after the above serious indication that Dr. Peck was
informed of the fact and called upon to view the case.
"He immediately quarantined the place and called
in City Physician Preston and Dr. Watzek, both of whom confirmed his diagnosis
of the case as one of genuine smallpox. So it will be plainly observed by all
that any delay in reporting the case was due to the negligence of the victim and
his sister themselves and to no one else."
Those Who Are Exposed
The family of Mrs. Sarah Ita occupies one half of the
house and these parties have been exposed. All have been vaccinated. The Ita boy
attends school No. 4 and up to yesterday the school children had been exposed.
It is likely that all of the children there will be vaccinated as a safeguard.
Residents Are Vaccinated.
Those who reside on the hill in the vicinity of the
Strombeck home are much exercised over the appearance of the plague in the
neighborhood and there were scores of vaccinations solicited. The place has been
quarantined and thoroughly fumigated.
Vaccination Offered.
On account of the fact that the little boy of the
family went to school in No. 4 and was in Miss Miles' room in that building the
city physician, Dr. Preston, ordered that the children in that room be
vaccinated. The matter of the vaccination of all other pupils was left to the
direction of Superintendant Young. In the room where the child attended school
all the pupils who have not been vaccinated within 5 years will be required to
be vaccinated at once.
Two Escape Quarantine
Mrs. Strombeck and her little daughter who were in the
family of the one taken will with smallpox escaped yesterday between the time
the disease was discovered and the time Dr. Preston was notified. They went to
Anover, Ill. but Dr. Preston at once telegraphed to that city and told of the
exposure.
What Health Inspector Says
Health Inspector Charles N. Jessen was seen this
morning and said: "Dr. C.H. Preston first notified me yesterday afternoon.
He first went to Mayor Heinz and asked what should be done in the matter, and as
I understand it, the mayor ordered him to look after the matter in his official
capacity with full power to act. This Dr. Preston did. Late in the afternoon the
patient Strombeck was conveyed to the pest house or the St. Robert's hospital in
the Black Maria together with his sister and her babe. Claus Barofsky and Robert
Stange were placed on guard to watch the premises on upper Brady street, after
the quarantine had been established. There will be no special board of health
meeting held today."
Scourge of Smallpox
All cases of regular smallpox according to physicians
are divisible in to three stages, viz., first, that of the initial or eruptive
fever, second,
that of the progress and maturation of the specific eruption and third, that of
the decline. The first stage begins with chilliness, followed by heat and
dryness of the skin, a quickened pulse, loss of appetite, vomiting, headache and
pains in the back and limbs. On the third day minute red specks begin to appear
on the face and rapidly spread over the body. The fever usually begins to
subside as soon as the eruption appears. Statistics show that the eighth day of
the eruption is the most perilous.
The cause of smallpox is universally agreed to be a
specific contagion whose nature the medical profession is in the most profound
ignorance.
Smallpox is considered the most contagious of all known
diseases and appears in epidemic form at irregular intervals, and after raging
for a longer or shorter period, it gradually dies out and as a rule does not
generally appear again in the same community for years. The entire course of
smallpox in all its various stages occupies about three weeks.
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 11, 1900
ANOTHER CASE OF SMALLPOX
Mrs. E.B. Lewis Stricken With the Infectious Disease
Dr. C.H. Preston was advised late Saturday afternoon by
Dr. Rudolph of the existence of a case of pronounced smallpox at Hadlai Heights
in the west end of the city. The patient is Mrs. E.B. Lewis, wife of an employe
of the Rothschild Elevator company.
Mrs. Lewis came here last May 21st and had been treated
for a cold. On Thursday and Friday she grew worse and an eruption showed itself
which on Saturday Dr. Rudolph diagnosed as the smallpox. Since the residence of
the Lewis family stands far aloof from any habitation, on the top of the hill,
the health authorities have decided not to remove the patient and those exposed
to St. Robert's hospital, but rather to establish the quarantine there. This has
been done.
Mrs. Lewis has two children. Since there is no smallpox
in that locality it is thought that she contracted the disease in route here.
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 26, 1900
SMALL POX CASE AGAIN
Ed Eldridge, the Printer, the Latest Victim
IS A CASE OF VARALOID
The Patient Taken to St. Robert's Hospital This Afternoon- Story of the
Case.
Ed Eldridge, printer, was this afternoon discovered to
have the smallpox of a pretty pronounced type. He was feeling ill this afternoon
and
interviewed Dr. Ed. Bowman for treatment. As soon as Dr. Bowman saw him he knew
that it was a case of smallpox. He telephoned to Dr. Preston, who at once
pronounced the case one of smallpox.
This was about 1:30 o'clock. Eldridge was sent to the
vacant place on Perry street, beyond Third to await the coming of the Black
Maria. He was taken to the pest house, or St. Robert's hospital.
Health Officer Jessen commenced an investigation this
afternoon.
Another Case
Hannah Walker, who was employed as a domestic in the
Lewis home at the time the smallpox broke out there, and who was quarantined
along with the others in the family, today showed pronounced symptoms of an
attack of that disease. She has not been where she could have been exposed to
the disease since she was quarantined and she has not been in a position to
cause others to be exposed.
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
June 27, 1900
SMALL POX SCARE
Iceman Works All Day After Having Broken Out With Disease
MANY ARE VACCINATED
City Physician Anticipates No Further Spread of the Disease at Present
How would you like to be the iceman? That is, the
iceman, who had the smallpox yesterday that went around delivering the crystal
while he was broken out? The iceman is not in a dangerous condition nor is he
scared, but there are a few people who have been getting ice from No. 2 of the
Davenport Ice company, who wish the driver had not been afflicted with the
disease.
It all happened in this way. Ed Eldridge, who was taken
to the pest house yesterday, said he had a "pal", whose name was
William Klabiker, who was broken out with smallpox, or at least with the same
disease he had, and that he was delivering ice.
The health officer, to whom he told the story, at once
set out to look for wagon No. 2 of the Davenport Ice company, but he did not
find the man till evening at the close of the day's business. The man was then
taken to the pest house.
Ernst Moeller's Story
Ernst Moeller is the driver of wagon No. 2 of the
Davenport Ice company, of which Nic Albrecht and John Henzelmann are the
proprietors. He said to a Times reporter this morning:
"I did not know the man's name, although he worked
for three weeks with me. He came from Peoria. His neck, all under the chin and
under his ears was broken out, and he thought it was from poisoning from a cheap
shirt. I thought it was the barbers' itch. Yesterday it was much better than it
was the day before, and it was only last night that he was taken out to the pest
house."
The Route of Wagon No. 2
The route of wagon No. 2 is principally in the saloon
and German boarding house district of this city. Few believed that the iceman
had the smallpox along the beat of the wagon to which he was attached, and it is
thought that a cheap shirt worn by him, and which lost its color through
perspiration, coupled with a closely shaven neck, was chiefly responsible for
the eruption which is alleged was not pistular.
What Health Inspector Says.
Health Inspector Jessen says that the man has been
vaccinated, it not being though that he had a case of smallpox. "If the
vaccination takes," said he, "we will have sufficient proof that he
has not the smallpox."
The police do not like the statement of the press to
the effect that the police patrol, or ambulance, was used to take Ed Eldridge,
the smallpox victim, to the pest house. The patrol was not used for such a
purpose.
Health Officer Jessen said that this afternoon that the
man came from Joliet and not from Peoria, as Ernest Moeller stated. He also said
that as soon as the vaccination proves to be effective, which will be in a week,
the man will be released.
A Local Scare.
Over in the Democrat office where Ed Eldridge spent
some of his time at work or loafing, there were a number of men who thought they
might have been exposed to the disease and all were vaccinated this morning.
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Monday, January 28, 1901
TWO NEW CASES
ALTOGETHER THERE ARE THREE CASES AT SCHOOL NO 1.
BOARD OF HEALTH MEETS
City Physician Believes That Epidemic Is Due to Some Unreported Case That
Infected the School.
Four cases of smallpox in the city-that
is the inventory today. Of these one is so convalescent that he will get out of
the pest house on Thursday of this week. But there are three new cases, two of
which have not previously been reported and they are all from school No. 1. The
new cases are Alma Thuenen, 12-year-old, daughter of George Thuenen, 510 Spring
street. The other new case and the one reported this morning, is Albert Causby,
son of T.W. Causby, of 1221 East Locust street. As a result of the apparent
spread of the disease a board of health meeting was held in the city hall at 3
o'clock this forenoon. The purpose of the board of health meeting was to arrange
for the care of those who have been afflicted with the disease.
The New Cases.
The story of Helen Pauli was told in
the Times of Saturday. The case at the residence of George Thuenen was
discovered Saturday evening. The family physician was called to treat Alma
Thuenen, the 12-year-old daughter of George Thuenen, on account of a high fever.
He at once saw that it was a clear case of small pox and called the city
physician. Dr. Preston confirmed the diagnosis and at once made arrangements to
have the residence quarantined. It was ascertained that she had broken out with
the disease on Jan. 26, and that prior to that time she had been going to school
when she was still feeling well, which was up to last Tuesday. She had been
attending school No. 1 and was in the sixth grade in room 7.
In the family are five other and younger children, who
have now been vaccinated. The servant, who left the house as soon as she found
there was smallpox there, has been required to return to the house and remain in
quarantine with the other members of the family. Mr. Thuenen not having been
greatly exposed was allowed to go to the home of his parents to live, so that he
could continue his work, but not until he had taken every precaution against the
spread of the disease. The house is guarded.
Albert Causby.
This morning another physician reported
to Dr. Preston that Albert Causby, the 15-year-old son of T.W. Causby, of 1221
East Locust street, had the smallpox. Investigation proved that the statement
was correct.
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Thursday, February 14, 1901
DOES SMALL POX EXIST?
Interesting Session of the Board of Health at the City Hall
CONDITIONS OF INFECTION
Detention Hospital Will Be Provided For Suspects Near Stone Yard-
Geo. Thuenen's Protest
"Does smallpox exist?" was
the very pertinent question discussed at a protracted board of health meeting
which was held at the city hall yesterday afternoon.
The discovery of six more cases of alleged smallpox
since last Monday occasioned the call of the special meeting. Frank Lee Logan,
who lives with William Hitchcock, at 1034 East Fourteenth street, and 19 years
of age, was found to be suffering with the disease yesterday and was at once
placed under quarantine. Then the special meeting was called.
The meeting was convoked at 4 o'clock and adjourned at
5:45 to meet next Tuesday afternoon in regular session.
Mayor Heinz, in calling the board of health to order
stated that he wanted to find out all he could in reference to the smallpox
conditions. He wanted to know what had been done and what should be done.
He noticed that there was some contagious disease going
around which isn't smallpox, but against which people should be protected.
He asked the doctor how many of the cases existed at
the present time.
"There are 11. We had 12, but we got rid of the
Brunn case," was the reply.
"Then let us take each up in order and see what is
being done," said his honor.
The Physician's Returns
The Helen Pauli case was taken up. The girl was getting
well and was around the house. Two guards had been placed on duty. The eruptions
on the child began on Jan. 24. As the return card originally did not bear the
name of Dr. A.W. Bowman, the physician who discovered the case, the same had
been taken to him for his signature. This was the order made at the last meeting
of the board of health.
A letter from Dr. A.W. Bowman stating that as soon as
he discovered the case he sent a notice by private carrier to Dr. Preston, which
reached him 18 hours sooner than it would have done through the mail. He had
thought that he had done his full duty in notifying the city physician.
Dr. Rudolph, who attended the Lewis cases at Hadlai
Heights wrote in the same strain. Dr. J.P. Crawford, who had been called to
attend the Thuenen case had telephoned the clerk to the same effect.
Mayor Heinz emphatically stated that hereafter he did
not want any cards signed by the city physician returned to the board of health
unless he himself, and without any attending physician being present, discovered
the case. "The doctor has troubles enough of his own," suggested the
mayor, "and he shouldn't shoulder that responsibility. We have to make out
our bills to the county from these returns and we must know who is reponsible."
No Attending Physician
Alderman Phillips stated that one of the smallpox
guards at the Schroeder place on Marquette street had come to his home and
reported that after the quarantine had been established at that home the
patient, who is an adult, was left for 48 hours without an attending physician.
Dr. Preston stated that it was not his fault because he
had notified the patient to send for him when desired.
Dr. Preston suggested that one physician at a salary be
employed to care for all of the smallpox patients. He said the fee is ordinarily
$10 per visit in a smallpox case. He stated that doctors did not care to take
charge of such cases and could not legally be compelled to do so. His duties
obliged him to diagnose the disease, establish and maintain the quarantine and
not to wait on the patient.
Alderman Lindholm asked if a physician was not
compelled to go when called upon.
"Not legally," replied the physician.
"I can understand and see where he can be held
liable," said City Attorney Thuenen. "You can't let a man die through
neglect of assisting him."
The doctor stated thereupon that the fraternity was
philanthropic and that forgetfulness of self was characteristic of the cloth.
To Dispense with Guards
The question as to dispensing with the smallpox guards
at the Pauli place came up. There is a day and a night watchman employed there,
and it was thought that the night watchman's services might be dispensed with.
Alderman Bawden did not care to relax the vigor of the
quarantine. "Don't let us take down the gates yet," he said. "We
may have reason to regret it."
Dr. Preston stated that the quarantine should endure at
least until the 24th inst. which would be one month from the appearance of the
eruptions.
Alderman Lindholm moved that the two guards be retained
at the Pauli place until Feb. 24.
Seconded by Alderman Bawden.
Dr. Preston voted aye.
The Alma Thuenen Case
In the case of Alma Thuenen, reported by Dr. J.P.
Crawford, Dr. Preston reported two more infections, those of Mildren Thuenen, 3
years old, and Mary McMahon, the 15-year-old domestic, both light cases. The
case of Miss McMahon is post vaccination and according to City Attorney Thuenen,
the first child taken ill, Miss Alma, is doing the work for the hired girl whose
arm is painfully swollen. The city physician stated that the diagnosis showed
varioloid in both cases.
"What is varioloid?" was asked.
"It is the kind of smallpox you get after you are
vaccinated." replied the mayor. This provoked laughter.
Doesn't Believe It Is Smallpox
George Thuenen, through his brother, Henry Thuenen, the
city attorney, registered a protest. He contended that his children did not have
the smallpox, and therefore objected to Dr. Preston's visit to his home on the
ground that he had gone directly to the Wards on Mount street to the Thuenen's
thus possibly distributing the infection.
Mr. Thuenen insisted that his children have not what is
called the smallpox ,and has authority for it, as alleged in he person of the
old practicing physician who served in the smallpox hospitals in the south when
the disease was virulent and the mortality great. Hence Mr. Thuenen did not care
to have the city physician come from a house wherein smallpox may exist, into
his own home, where he believes it does not exist.
The Causby Guards
In reference to the retention of two guards at the
Causby home on East Locust street, it was suggested that the case was an
isolated one, and that the guard might be dispensed with.
Upon vote Bawden and Preston voted no and Lindholm and
Phillips aye.
"I vote aye," said the mayor.
Hence the night watchman at the Causby place was
ordered removed.
The Other Cases.
The cases of Thomas and Malvern Iles, of Wm. Bennett,
Albert Cook, Nettie Wirtz and the two Wards, and Mr. Schroeder, in Northwest
Davenport, and also of Frank Lee Logan, the latest discovered, were all debated.
No guards was deemed necessary in the Bennett case, but ordered placed in the
Cook, Wards and Logan cases.
The Wirtz case was quarantined but no guards placed.
Dr. Preston suggested that Frank Lee Logan be taken to
the pest house.
Mayor Heinz vigorously object on account of the
consequent expense.
Source of the Infection
Dr. Preston stated that he attributes the source of the
infection to a tramp who possibly slept in school house No. 1 some 10 or 14 days
prior to the infection of Helen Pauli. This, however, he advances as a
supposition.
Ten Dollars Out of Pocket
The doctor stated that he had vaccinated 136 school
children at school No. 1 and was out of pocket by $10 worth of virus. He
reiterated his former statements that vaccination was a safety measure.
Much discussion was had as to whether or not the
smallpox existed. The mayor considered it chickenpox, or smallpox rash, and
Alderman Phillips concurred in the diagnosis. Dr. Preston insisted that it was
smallpox though of a non-malignant type. It was surely epidemic. It was a sort
of natural vaccination rendering one immune. Still he desired to be upheld in
his authority in the extirpation of the disease.
Quoting from the definition of the disease in the
report of the state board of health, the following is found which was pointed
out to the reporter:
"There are still physicians in Iowa who call it
Cuban itch, yaws or chickenpox because some of the cases do not present all the
symptoms and signs of smallpox. There are other physicians, who not being able
to call it smallpox, claim that it is a new disease, and do not pretend to name
it."
A Detention Hospital.
Dr. Preston recalled the arrest of the deaf and dumb
boy by Officer Quinn recently and of how the policeman was told to take the lad
down to the river and keep him there until he could be examined for smallpox. He
said that it was cold weather and dangerous to isolate a suspect on the river
bank pending diagnosis. He suggested the building of a small structure in the
patrol barn enclosure which could be filled up with a rapid heating sheet iron
stove and a cot for the reception of all suspects such as was the negro Olliver.
Alderman Phillips thought one section of the old police
station might be used, and an entrance afforded through the great doors on the
Main street side.
The matter was referred upon suggestion of the mayor to
Alderman Phillips.
Thereafter adjournment.
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Thursday, February 20, 1901
IT WAS CLINICAL
Physicians Discuss Smallpox for Edification
TWO QUARANTINES RAISED
Interesting Session of the Health Officers and How the Doctors Describe the
Disease.
That the epidemic now existing in the
eastern part of the city is smallpox of a pronounced but not of a malignant type
can not any longer be doubted since our physicians have emphatically stated it
to be so before the alleged doubting Thomases of the board of health, at the
meeting of that body yesterday afternoon.
All of the physicians who were present at the session
open invitation were agreed upon the existence of the disease in this city as
also upon its mildness of form and the general value, efficacy and necessity of
vaccination. Three of them stated that the disease produced a voraciousness of
appetite and suggested that rigidity be made the feature in the matter of the
enforcement of the quarantine laws.
The session of the board was a protracted one. It was
called to order by Mayor Heinz at 3:15 o'clock and was adjourned upon motion of
Alderman Lindholm at 5 o'clock, after a two and a half hours interesting
symposium upon smallpox, chickenpox, vaccination, quarantine laws, citizens'
protests and other miscellaneous subjects.
Those Who Were Present
There were present besides the members
of the board and the representatives of all of the city papers, the following
physicians and citizens:
Dr. A.W. Bowman, Dr. Henry Mathey, Dr. J.P. Crawford,
Dr. Custavus Hoepfner, Dr. Fred Lambach, Dr. Benjamin Carmichael, J.W.
Ballard, chairman board of supervisors: George Causby, Claus Jipp, Henry Holm
and Henry P. Barnholt.
Claus Jipp's Request
The first matter which the board
considered was the request of Claus Jipp, a contractor, who owns tow houses
recently constructed down on West Fifth street, near Pine street. Being
compelled to return to his work at once he was given the floor immediately after
the meeting was called to order.
Mr. Jipp stated that a sewer was being constructed
along West Fifth street, and that since the lots which he owns as also those
owned by Mrs. Claus Bischoff (four in number) and by Rudolph Rolfs (three in
number) were lower than the street and therefore retains water which seeps into
the cellar the parties named be allowed to connect spouts of their houses with
the sewer. The necessary permission was granted subject to revocation by the
board at any time.
Opinions Sometimes Diverge
Dr. Paul then stated to the board that
since honest differences has arisen as to the nature of the disease which the
board of health was now quarantining against, he had invited the doctors who had
examined the cases and who had originally diagnosed them to be present at the
board meeting with the request that they describe the said disease.
"Well, let's take them up in order the same as we
did at the last meeting," suggested the mayor.
It was so done.
The first case was that of Ernst Bruhn, but as that had
already been disposed of by the lifting of the quarantine, no attention was paid
to it.
The next case was that of Helen Pauli.
Pauli Quarantine Raised.
This case had been diagnosed by Dr. A.W.
Bowman. According to the rigid quarantine laws of the state board of health the
term of isolation must be 40 days. However, 30 days for such a mild case was
deemed sufficient. Seventeen days after recovery, was included with this term,
and therefore upon motion of Dr. C.H. Preston, it was voted that the quarantine
should be raised on the 24th inst., (next Sunday) This will relieve two watchmen
who have been employed, one on at day and the other at night, at a wage of $2.25
per day.
Dr. A.W. Bowman's Statement
Dr. A.W. Bowman was asked to tell about
the Pauli case. He stated that he had been called there and found that smallpox
oxiated. He knew the symptoms and diagnosed them. The vescular eruptions
were there. He at once notified Dr. Preston, and thought by so doing he was
notifying the board of health, and had therefore performed his duty. The
intelligence of the existence of the disease had thereby reached the board 18
hours sooner that it would have done had he committed a return card to the
mails.
The doctor had no doubt whatever as to the nature of
the disease first diagnosed by him.
The Alma Thuenen Case.
Concerning the next in order, Dr. Preston
reported that while Alma Thuenen was progressing nicely, and otherwise would
soon be out of quarantine, the discovery of two other more recent cases in that
household precluded the present raising of the quarantine.
Dr. J.P. Crawford, the family physician of the Thuenens,
had originally diagnosed the case.
When asked to describe the case Dr. Crawford said:
"I was called to the Thuenen home and found Alma
ill. She had been out of school for several days. She had a high fever, a
backache, and other symptoms which might indicate any disease. Two days later I
again visited the Thuenen home and then discovered a papular eruption on the
forehead and face of the child, which indicated either smallpox or varioloid.
"I think I know smallpox when I see it. Nineteen
years ago, in 1882, I had the privilege to take care of 30 or 35 cases of
smallpox when I was home surgeon at the Mercy hospital. Some four or five of the
patients died. I saw them constantly for I was there constantly and visited them
through all states of their illness, had noted all from a clinical point of
view. I have a right to my opinion as to what smallpox is.
" I reluctantly reported the case to the city
physician, because I am the family physician of the Thuenens and I would have
liked to take care of the case myself. However, the other patients I have, and
my duties to them, forbade this."
The Sanford Case.
"Next was the Sanford family. Here
were different conditions. I found there only a few papules or eruptive spots,
which were only in the vesicular stage. This has a slight similarity to
chickenpox. Therefore, I advised the patient to be held as a suspect. I
did this because I was not yet certain as to the true character of the disease.
"The child was therefore held on parole and in due
course of time a marked eruption made its appearance. This was of varioloid.
Another Sanford child was also infected.
What Chickenpox is.
"There is a question,"
continued the doctor, " as to the situation, and we must face it. I have
been asked by the gentleman (Alderman Phillips) for the difference between
smallpox and chickenpox. In chickenpox there is no pre-eruptive fever. The
eruptions are a bleb, or bladder-like, like a blister, all the time. The
vesicular stage does not reach the pustular stage as in smallpox.
The doctor also stated that varioloid is a mild
form of smallpox resultant after vaccination.
The symptoms of smallpox were given as a high fever,
backache, papular eruptions changing from the vesicular to the pustular stages,
and often attended in severe cases by secondary fever and death.
Deaconness Stockwell.
"We have other evidences of the
malignity of this disease right here in this city. A deaconess of the Methodist
church, a sweet-faced lady, contracted the disease here in Davenport and she
will now be pit-marked for life, her sweet-faced beauty converted into
deformity.
"The strictest measures ought to be taken that
this disease which has done this for her should be stamped out of this city.
This commends itself to all. Quarantine is a hardship, but this is better than
having a scourge in this city.
Reasons for Quarantine.
"Not having deaths every week is
no reason for not enforcing the strictest measures to stamp out the disease. It
is a fact that it is in mild form. The same might be said of the modified form
of the scarlet fever. Several years ago the scarlet fever used to be the most
dreaded of all diseases, even more so than diphtheria, which was prevalent among
children. Now we are having it in a mild form, but it still possesses the danger
of becoming an epidemic.
Doctors Showed No White Feather.
Dr. Crawford took exception to the
statement that after the doctors had diagnosed a case as one of smallpox they
skipped by the light of the moon." He said emphatically that the physicians
have not shown the white feather. They have done their duty and it remained the
duty of the board of health to do the rest.
"There are ten to twelve cases of smallpox in the
city today.," said he, " and if each case had its attending family
physician there would be all the more danger of spreading the disease. If each
of these physicians had 15 families which he attended, just think of the
possibility of infection. By the very supposition that the family doctor should
take care of each of the cases diagnosed by him, the spirit of the quarantine
law is violated. The disease should be treated and attended to by one doctor and
not by many. This one physician should be one who relinquishes his practice for
the time being for a remuneration."
Dr. Crawford made a statement in his own behalf wherein
he said that when he found smallpox existed in the Thuenen and Sanford families
he promptly vaccinated all of the members of those families, procured medicines
himself for them and with their full and free consent turned them over to the
city physician and supposed, and had reason to suppose, that the patients would
then be taken proper care of by some physician appointed to or retained by the
board.
What Dr. Cantwell Did
Dr. Crawford paid a tribute to the late
Dr. A.W.C. Cantwell, the late eminent physician of the board of health. He said
that during the epidemic of 1882 Dr. Cantwell gave up his regular practice for a
part of two months, and devoted himself entirely to the care of the numerous
smallpox patients at that time. he was ostracized by his regular patients. He
presented a bill for something like $600 or $800 and it was paid.
"The citizens of Davenport," concluded the
doctor," and public sentiment is in favor of a strict quarantine. Our
schools demand it. Our commercial and business and social interests also demand
it. We should not advertise Davenport as the abode of continual smallpox
pestilence."
"Don't Let Down the Bars."
The doctor suggested that those who had
been quarantined had been encouraged from some sources to protest. He insisted
that the board of health standing by the quarantine. Dr. Palmer and other
diagnosticians might say this is not smallpox, but he could absolutely say that
it was.
Henry Thuenen, city attorney (interrupting),
"Doctor, don't you think that the quarantine is satisfactory?"
The doctor replied that it was "Keep up the
bars" said he, "Let the taxpayers come up and assist these poor people
who are quarantined. They will be in favor of paying these expenses if a scourge
is saved the city. Be loyal to the situation."
Dr. Matthey's Experience.
Dr. Henry Matthey, a member of the Iowa
state board of health and a local physician of much knowledge and experience,
was called upon. He spoke for several minutes and furnished much interesting
data concerning the late epidemic in Muscatine.
He stated that in his official capacity as a member of
the state board of health he had visited many cities and investigated many cases
of smallpox.
Notably he had visited at Muscatine last year on Feb.
20 (one year ago today) and diagnosed the cases he met with there as genuine
smallpox. The mayor of Muscatine, himself a physician, opposed the diagnosis.
The doctor had gone over the city with Dr. Schmidt of the Muscatine board
of health and found very severe cases which without the least possibility of
doubt were those of the genuine article. Both he and Dr. Schmidt then made an
effort to get the newspapers of Muscatine to suppress ridicule of the matter and
to warn the people of the peril. For five months, the mayor, the board of
health, and the newspapers made a joke of it. There were 400 cases and that was
no laughing matter. Finally the board of health took decisive action and
the disease was soon stamped out. But it cost Muscatine county a pile of money.
The doctor did not care to see Scott county or Davenport, go through the same
experience.
For himself, he would not look after a smallpox patient
less than $25 a visit. He stated, however, that he had not yet been called by
Doctor Preston to observe any of the cases existing here at the present time.
His charges evidently had been considered too high.
City Attorney Thuenen asked Dr. Matthey if he thought
that even in a mild case of smallpox such as exist here, it would be advisable
to leave the patients without an attending physician. Dr. Matthey replied that
it was very bad to do so.
The Mayor's Remarks.
When Dr. Matthey had replied to Mr.
Thuenen's question, Mayor Heinz stated that without a doubt whether the
prevailing disease was smallpox or chickenpox, the question remained as to what
should be done with the poor people, who were infected, and whose houses were
quarantined.
He was satisfied that the sufferers ought to have all
of the necessary medical attention, and therefore he had prepared the following
resolution which he thought embodied the opinions of the doctors on the subject
and he submitted the same to the board as follows
The Text of the Resolution
"Whereas it appears to be a fact
that it is not the duty of the city physician to attend to persons who are sick
and quarantined, as a physician, and,
"Whereas, it appears to be a fact that no
physician is legally bound to treat professionally or personally any person who
is sick or quarantined and as we believe that all persons who are quarantined
should have all necessary medical attendance therefore be it
"Resolved that a committee of two be prepared to
find out whether some competent physician can not be employed by this board
whose duty it will be ????????? to all sick people who are quarantined and who
are ?????? own means to procure the proper medical attention."
Upon motion of Dr. Preston the resolution was adopted.
Aldermen Phillips and Lindholm were nominated as that
committee and they were directed to enter into a contract and to report the same
at the next regular meeting of the board of health which will be held on March
5.
The Supervisors' Statement
J.W. Ballard chairman of the board of
supervisors was present and he was asked to make a statement. He said that the
board of supervisors depended upon the board of health doing its own duty. He
thought that all dangers of an epidemic ought to be diminished and suggested
that no half way measures should be taken.
He stated that Dr. Preston and Hon. W.C. Hayward, of
the school board, had appeared before the supervisors at the recent session and
asked that it order general vaccination of the school children or second the
efforts of the school board in that direction. This, he said, the board could
not do because it was solely and simply within the province of the board of
health, acting under the sate board regulations. The chairman of the board of
supervisors, however, stated that the county would agree to pay for the
vaccination of all those who desired to be innoculated and who were unable by
reason of poverty to pay the fee.
Hoy! Prussia Made a Test
Dr. Henry Matthey then had some thing
to say upon the subject of vaccination, which Mr. Ballard had called up by his
remarks.
The doctor stated that the Prussian government had
strong laws regarding vaccination which dated from the '50s. There was an
epidemic of smallpox at the time and vaccination was broached as a preventive.
The government decided to make a heroic test. This was done in a fort where two
regiments were quartered. One of the regiments was ordered to be vaccinated. The
epidemic spread to the two regiments. In the one innoculated only two members
became ill with smallpox and none died. In the other regiment all were taken
down with the disease and 55 per cent of the cases were fatal. This he said was
the reason why the Prussian government took such rigid measures regarding
vaccination. Now a certificate of vaccination in that country immediately
follows the birth certificate.
What Salt Lake City Shows
Salt Lake City, Utah, according to Dr.
C.H. Preston, is much like Davenport. Not in the fact that she harbors Mormons
but rather in the fact that she has smallpox. Salt Lake City, so says the recent
issue of the Medical News, in the last three months had 334 cases of smallpox
out of which number only seven patients had been vaccinated within the last
twenty years.
In Davenport, by comparison, he found 26 cases in the
last six months with only two patients out of the 26 who had been vaccinated.
Vaccination for 25 Cents.
The doctor thought that school No. 1
should not be the only school looked after in the matter of vaccination. Hence
he desired to report to the board that he had secured the agreement of the Drs.
Stiles, Peck, Sala, Rodgers and Decker to vaccinate the school children all over
the city for 25 cents apiece, the usual charge being $1, although 50 cents was
charged in times when epidemic existed. The doctor listed 753 vaccinations made
by the five doctors at 25 cents each, all paid for and performed principally at
schools Nos. 1 and 13 in East Davenport, where the infection was most likely, if
at all, to spread.
The doctor also stated that he himself had vaccinated
210 persons for which he had not yet received a penny and for which he intended
to submit a moderate bill, although he thought it was for the board of
supervisors to pay the same upon order of the board of health "O.K"ing
of the same.
Dr. Hoepfner's Statement.
Dr. Hoepfner, who was called into the
George Thuenen family after Mildred and the hired girl had been infected, was
the next physician to make a statement.
He said that he agreed with his colleagues as to the
identity of the disease. He had ordered ventilation of the rooms of the Thuenen
home and left disinfectants there. He said that one of the children, Mildred,
had three vesicles or papules and that a child 2 years old and a babe 9 months
old were uninfected. The hired girl had the varioloid. He agreed with Dr.
Preston's diagnosis.
Vaccination Certificates
Dr. Preston then asked that the
board authorize him to have 1,000 blank vaccination certificates printed for
distribution among the physicians whereon the medical fraternity members might
place the name, day and date of the party and the innocula.
The doctor was authorized upon a motion to have 2,000
instead of 1,000 of the blanks printed.
This action was taken in order to secure uniformity in
the text of the certificate.
Virus is Innocuous
Dr. Gustavus Hoepfner asked to say a
few words about vaccination. He was granted the permission.
The doctor stated that the virus or lymph which was now
used was innocuous. It was no longer secured from cows which might be infected
with tuberculosis, but from especially bred calves which do not become infected
with that disease. There is no longer the arm-to-arm vaccination used or what is
known as the human virus innoculation in vogue sometime ago. Hence, in
vaccination there is absolutely no danger as to the contracting of syphilis or
tuberculosis in the operation which he stated was a sure and safe preventative
of the smallpox.
The Causby Case Next.
The next case considered was that of
George Causby, Jr., who resides on East Locust street. Dr. Braunlich had
attended the case but that physician was not present at the meeting of the
board.
Dr. Preston thought that the quarantine established
there might be raised on the 24th inst. (next Sunday). A night watchman had been
dispensed with there at the last regular meeting of the board.
Upon motion it was decided that the aforesaid
quarantine be raised on the date mentioned.
Mr. Causby's Statement.
Mr. Causby, the father of the
quarantined lad, was present at the meeting. He asked permission to address the
board and it was granted. He prefaced his remarks by asking Dr. Crawford if
smallpox was always preceded by a fever.
"Always!" replied the physician.
"That's all I want to know," said Mr. Causby.
"Those who know me know that I am a law abiding citizen. I know that Dr.
Preston is a thorough gentleman. But doctors even make some mistakes. I honestly
believe that my boy has not got the smallpox, because simply my boy has never
been sick. He is the healthiest looking patient in the city. He never had a
fever. The whole trouble is the boy was constipated and had a very bad cold and
his mother gave him the old-fashioned remedy, sassafras tea and a hot foot-bath.
The next day he had eruptions.
"My boy simply has the chickenpox and under the
circumstances I think I have been harshly treated.
"I've seen the real article in Old England when it
was rampant there. I tell you, gentlemen, it is one of the most loathsome of
diseases.
Fever Hard to Discover
Dr. J.P. Crawford, when Mr. Causby had
concluded, arose and stated that it was difficult to detect fever without the
physician's thermometer which is always carried by practitioners. He said that
not even a physician could tell without the instrument and a variation of three
degrees from the normal temperatures and this could only then be discovered by a
morning and evening test.
The doctor stated that we have today typhoid fever in
the "walking" form, wherein the patient does not even have to take to
bed, but it is typhoid fever just the same. Varioloid is a smallpox which does
not reach the pustular stage. It is papular and vesicular, but not pustular and
hence the distinction in the names. When the eruption is in a confluent form a
secondary fever is apt to result which makes the disease grievous and dangerous.
A Big Appetite
Dr. Crawford, Dr. Lambach and Dr.
Matthey stated that smallpox patients who are suffering from a mild form of the
disease are usually of a voracious appetite much similar to the "hard coal
stove" appetite alluded to in a recent article contributed to the evening
paper.
This stirred up Dr. B.F. Carmichael who had diagnosed
the case of Frank A Logan who is now quarantined at the Hitchcock home on East
Fourteenth street. He said that the "hard coal stove appetite" article
had compromised him. He defied any one to say that the Logan case was not a
genuine one of smallpox. He registered his protest most emphatically.
Clerk Smith, however, had a letter on hand from the
author of the published open letter in which apologies were made to the board
for the "harshness" of the criticism contained in the published
communication.
Upon suggestion of the mayor this effusion was not
read.
Dr. Lambach stated that he had diagnosed both of the
Ward cases as being smallpox and that his diagnosis was correct. The typical
eruptions were in evidence.
These Cases Yet Quarantined.
The following quarantines are still in
force by reason of other outbreaks of the disease in the place or by the
recentness of the discovery:
Wietz case a recent development, the quarantine
obtained.
Iles case, another case having developed, quarantine
still obtaining.
Bennet case, a recent development.
Ward cases, recently developed.
Cook case, recent development, still under quarantine.
Logan case, recently developed, must obtain until March
13.
Second Thuenen cases (2) only recently developed.
Upon motion it was ordered that the quarantine rules
obtain in all of the above cases until next regular meeting of the board of
health which will convene on March 5.
The city clerk then presented the following payroll of
the smallpox or quarantine guards from Feb. 1 to Feb. 18, inclusive, which was
approved and recommended to the board of supervisors for payment. The pay roll
involves over $170.
Henry Gardner, 18 days, $40.50.
Hans Jochim, 18 days, $40.50.
Jud Irish, 18 days, $40.50.
Chas. Carstens, 13 days, $29.25
Max Roege, 5 days, $11.25
Fred Schultz, 18 days, $40.50
Frank Connell, 18 days, $40.50
Joseph Cummings, 13 days, $29.25
Henry Ramm, 18 days, $40.50
Peter Vogt, 18 days, $40.50
Peter Brehmer, 12 days, $27
A.D. Fien, 7 days, $15.75
J. Vonder Geest, 6 days, $13.50
John Dwingle, 7 days, $15.75
Oliver Evans, 6 days, $13.50
Robert Oakes, 5 days, $11.25
Detlef Hafel, 1 day, $2.25
The total amount of the payroll is $172.25
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Monday, February 25, 1901
ANOTHER CASE
Charles Risler of De Sota Street Has Smallpox
QUARANTINE ESTABLISHED
Patient is a Member of a Family of Nine and Lives in House With Two Other
Families
Today another case of smallpox was
reported to City Physician Preston by Dr. Ewell. The case is in the family of
W.C. Risler, of 720 DeSota street. The son, 21 years of age, Charles Risler, has
developed a very pronounced case of the disease. He was at once with other
members of the family of nine, placed under quarantine regulations. The family
lives in the middle rooms of a house which accommodates three families. It is
likely that it will be quarantined for a time.
There is another suspected case in the city, although
it is not definitely developed yet.
Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Thursday, February 28, 1901
SOME NEW CASES
They are Among People who Have Been Quarantined
TWO ARE IN ONE HOME
Authorities Consider the Fact That No New Homes are Represented as Very
Fortunate.
There are three new cases of the mild
form of smallpox in the city, although there are no new places to quarantine.
The cases have developed in homes that were quarantined and for that reason
there is no indication that the disease is spreading.
In the home of Mrs. Ed Larkins of 541 Mississippi
avenue, there are two little sufferers of the disease. They are Thomas, four
years old, and Fanny, three years old. This is the home where Albert Cook was
quarantined. The eruptions appeared on the faces of the children on February 24
and were not reported until this morning. Both of these children were vaccinated
at the time of discovery that Cook had the disease. They had never been
vaccinated before. They have developed the disease just 16 days after they were
first exposed to it. The form of the disease as developed is mild.
At the Bennett Home
The other one of the three cases
reported this morning is at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Bennett, 1118 East
Thirteenth street, where Ashton Bennett, the two year old son, has been taken
ill with the disease. He, too, never was vaccinated until after he was exposed
to the disease. The case developed is a very mild one.
There is no surprise that there are additional cases
developing in the quarantined homes. The fact that the news cases are mostly
confined to the quarantined homes is a good indication that the disease is not
spreading in the city and that all danger of its spreading is past.
Daily Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Mar 16, 1901
SMALLPOX AT M'CAUSLAND
Lou Hennings the Victim, Who Has Been Attending School Here.
The people of McCausland are
considerably excited over the appearance of smallpox at that place. Yesterday
Dr. Henry Matthey of the board of health received a telephone message stating
that Lou Hennings, a young man who had been attending school in this city, had,
it is believed a case of smallpox. The Hennings home is about one mile from
McCausland and is now under quarantine but this does not rest the fears of the
people thereabouts, for many have come in contact with him. The doctors of
McCausland have held a consultation in regard to the matter and it is probable
that other homes will be put under quarantine.
It is said that Hennings contracted the disease in this city
at a house where the quarantine had been recently removed, but this is a mere
theory.
ANOTHER SMALL POX CASE.
Develops in an East Fourth Street Boarding House.
This afternoon Christ Tuzlin, who one
week ago was afflicted with a fever that Wednesday developed into symptoms of
smallpox, was taken to the St. Robert's hospital from his boarding house on East
Fourth street. The young man is about 28 years old.
Dr. Preston was notified in regard to the matter and at
once put into use all the known precautions in regard to the spread of the
disease. The case was definitely diagnosed as smallpox today. The black Martin
was called into service and the patient taken to the hospital.
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