According to Dr. S.E. Buchanan, smallpox in the county is almost approaching an epidemic. On last Friday three cases of this disease were reported and during the week-end another case developed.
The cases were caused by the peregrinations of a family who shortly before Christmas spent several nights in a house at one of the mills, the house having just been vacated by a man who had been ill with smallpox. After leaving this home, the errant family visited relatives at the Locke Mill and in a short while after, three of the younger children were sent to the county home.
A case of smallpox soon developed in the home visited at the Locke Mill and later a case was discovered at the county home. The latest case reported was at the county home and more were to be expected, said Dr. Buchanan, since it was impossible to vaccinate all the inmates.
The three children who carried the disease to the county home have since been placed in the orphanage at Barium Springs. Dr. Buchanan called the head of the Orphanage Saturday and informed him that the children were carrying smallpox. Officials at the orphanage stated that they were not worried because of the fact that the entire number had been vaccinated only a week before.
Not only are there a number of cases of smallpox, but chickenpox and mumps are rampant. No figures were available since the two latter are not reportable diseases. Smallpox, though reported to Dr. Buchanan, requires no quarantine. Health officials find that it is preventable if opportunity is taken of vaccination and as this is given free, there is no need of any person failing to be insured himself against taking the disease.
January 1925
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