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Vol. 1. No. 4.i?sisfOF EPIDEMICInvestigations On To Discover Disease Stronghold.BLAME MEXICANSBelieve Section H^nds Brought Smallpox to Joliet.Efforts of city health authorities during the past several weeks to discover the source of the present epidemic of smallpox have thus far failed.Investigations are now going on, but no real proof of $e source of the contagion can be secured.Blame Mexicans.Many theories are being advanced by local physicians, chief among them that the epidemic was brought on by the importation recently of a trainload of Mexican railroad seetion hands. .These section hands have been residing outside the city but visiting it about once a week. As yet no] smallpox has been reported among, any of the Mexican section gangs in this vicinity, but no rigid investigation into their condition of health has been made by the authorities as they are outside the city limits.Situation Relieved.Yesterday officials were optimistic regarding the outlook and declaredthat it is the brightest now in recent weeks. There were three new cases reported yesterday, but these were of a mild nature. The continuation of the warm spell is giving the administration new courage- to continue its fight against the epidemic.Mayor Wood yesterday asserted that vaccination is the only thing the city can suggest as a means of checking the spread of the disease. If everyone were vaccinated the epidemic would soon cease, he said.Plans for establishment of two contagion hospitals were dropped yesterday by the mayor who said the situation is now such that the hospitals are not needed. \Causes Sttr.A stir was caused in the ranks of the employees of the Phoenix Horseshoe works yesterday morning when it was learned that one of the employees of the plant with whom they have been working steadily for the past two weeks was suffering from a well developed case of smallpox.The health department was immediately notified and the old city ambulance-sent to the plant. The stricken patient was removed to his home and the house quarantined.Patient Removed.$fter the man had been removed from the plant. Dr. G. M. Pairs, the company physician was summoned and ordered to vaccinate all of the employees of the company. Those who refused to submit to being in-occulated by the company physician, were ordered home and instructed not to return to work until they could show a physician’s certificate to the effect that they have been vaccinated.Most of the employees submitted to being immediately vaccii _ ely vaccinated by Dr.Peairs.In an effort to ascertain how many cases of the disease were in the city* Postmaster John T. Clyne instructed the carriers to make note of the cases on their individual beat. The result of this canvas of the city shows that there are now forty-two cases quarantined.See Finish Soon.Although a few new cases were re-, ported yesterday, local physicians and the health commissioner believe that the situation is now well in hand and that the spreado f thed isease would soon be prevented.The requests made upon the public to submit to being vaccinated is being generally observed and by tonight the mayor expects that over ninetyPer cent of the people living in the city will have been innoculatedthe disease.Practically the entire football squad of the Joliet High school with the exception of one member was suspended yesterday morning because of their refusal to be vaccinated. The one man who submitted was Arthur Blackburn.
Newspaper Details
Joliet Free Press
Joliet, Illinois, US
Thu, Dec 04, 1913
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Ivan G.
NA, 19 Feb 2025
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