Deputy Sheriff Belvin Comes Across Woman with Smallpox, Oct. 29, 1924

Deputy Sheriff Belvin Looks for Negro Wife Beater; Finds Well Developed Case of Smallpox. . . Officer Declines Invitation to “Come in and Warm Hands” When Moody Woman Looks Up and Glances in His Direction; All Contacts But Two Have Been Vaccinated, Health Department Advises

The first case of small pox to develop in Durham county since July was reported to the board of health Tuesday. The afflicted person is a negro woman who lives about eight miles from the city. The case, according to Dr. J.H. Epperson, county health superintendent, is believed to have had its origin in Guilford county, the unfortunate person having some here recently from the Greensboro section.

With the exception of two, all persons who have come in contact with the woman have been vaccinated, and health department officials do not fear any spread of the malady. The two not reached, but who will either be obliged to submit to vaccination or go into quarantine, left the house before they could be treated. However, their identity is known and they will be obliged to submit to one of the two courses open to them.

Report of the case and its listing was made possible through the activities of Deputy Sheriff Eugene (Cat) Belvin, who called at the house while endeavoring to serve a warrant on a negro for wife beating. He immediately notified Dr. Epperson and health department officials visited the house and took the situation in charge.

Officer Belvin said he knocked at the door and asked questions concerning the whereabouts of the party he was seeking. He noticed a woman sitting with her head bowed in her hands. Presently she looked up and glanced in his direction. He noticed her face was badly broken out.

“What’s the matter with you, woman?” the deputy sheriff asked.

“They say I’ve got small pox,” was her answer.

“Won’t you come in and warm your hands?” one of the party asked.

“No thanks,” Belvin replied. “I guess I’ll be on my way.

Two cases of tuberculosis among whites were reported to the department and listed on the chart.

From page 3 of the Durham Morning Herald, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1924. Newspaper spelled disease "smallpox" in headlineand "small pox" in article.

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020730/1924-10-29/ed-1/seq-3/

"The word “pox” indicated, during the late 15th century, a disease characterized by eruptive sores. When an outbreak of syphilis began in Europe during that time, it was called by many names, including the French term “la grosse verole” (“the great pox”), to distinguish it from smallpox, which was termed “la petite verole” (“the small pox”). Chickenpox was initially confused with smallpox until 1767, when the English physician William Heberden (1710-1801) provided a detailed description of chickenpox, differentiating it from smallpox." The word “pox” indicated, during the late 15th century, a disease characterized by eruptive sores. When an outbreak of syphilis began in Europe during that time, it was called by many names, including the French term “la grosse verole” (“the great pox”), to distinguish it from smallpox, which was termed “la petite verole” (“the small pox”). Chickenpox was initially confused with smallpox until 1767, when the English physician William Heberden (1710-1801) provided a detailed description of chickenpox, differentiating it from smallpox." From the National Library of Medicine, online at pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9997050/, by Amber B. Czinn and Leonard J. Hoenig.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9997050/