186 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Now contrast the coudition in the townships. If the patient is not 

 verj sick the probability is, that to avoid expense, no physician is 

 called in, and no precautions are taken. His friends drop in to see 

 him. The children, unvaccinated, as is the case with most of their 

 school-fellows, go to school every day as usual. At the end of two 

 weeks some of the children of the family are taken sick and at the 

 e:id of another week some of the neighbors begin to develop the same 

 symptoms. It begios to dawn on the minds of the community that 

 an infectious and contagious disease is spreading among them, and 

 one of the families thinks it well to call in a doctor. His suspicions 

 are aroused. Other doctors are called to see the case and still other 

 doctors see other cases. Then the comedy of what" may turn out to 

 be a tragedy begins. Not one of these doctors has probably ever 

 seen a case of small-pox. The doctor who discovered the first case 

 and suspected its true nature is set at naught aod ridiculed if not 

 threatened with personal violence. Dr. Bolus does not hesitate to 

 pronounce it to be chicken-pox, and will stake his reputation on it. 

 Dr. Pilule calls it impetigo contagiosa and rolls the grand sounding 

 name off his tongue with much satisfaction. Dr. Physick says that 

 its nothing in the world but Cuban itch, unaware of the fact that 

 Cuban itch was the name given to small-pox by our soldier boys in 

 Cuba in jest. Dr. Aloes pronounces it with still greater acumen, 

 Philippine measles. Dr. Veterin is inclined to the belief that it is 

 swine-pox. Dr. Homeo entitles it la grippe complicated with erux>- 

 tive tendencies. Dr. Jalap swears that it is German measles and noth- 

 ing more. Dr. Paregoric who has seen a fatal case with dark spots 

 on the skin is quite sure that it is Petechial fever. And so while the 

 doctors disagree, the infection travels merrily from farm house to 

 farm house, from village to hamlet until it at last reaches a borough 

 or city with a board of health. A consultation is at once called, but, 

 while a difference of opinion still manifests itself, finally, that is to 

 say at the end of an hour, not of several months, the opinion of Dr. 

 Wiseman prevails, to the effect, first that as the case is a suspicious 

 one it should be at once strictly quarantined, and, secondly, that, 

 as like his brethren, he is unable to make np his mind on the spur 

 of the moment as to the exact nature of the disease, it is desirable to 

 summon an expert to whose decision the question may be referred. 

 The State Board of Health is at once telegraphed so to that effect. 

 Within twenty-four hours the expert has reached the spot, the 

 case is decided to be true small-pox of a mild type, and all necessary 

 precautions are taken. The infection is stopped right then and 

 there, possibly not another case occurring in the borough. Is it any 

 wonder then that small-pox prevails to a very much greater extent 

 in proportion to population in townships than in incorporated cities 

 and boroughs which are compelled to maintain boards of health? 



