Small pox cases
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, April 3, 1873
Since the Journal was printed last week, four cases of small pox and one case of Varioloid have been reported, that of Stephen Jordon, on Harrison street, in the north part of the city, Nelson Patterson, on Elm street, in the southeast part of the city, both of whom have died, Henry Wilson, on the corner of Green and Jefferson streets, and a child at Martin's on Pike street between Washington and Green. The case of varioloid is Mrs. Lindsey, in Jennison's addition, in the southwest part of the city. The disease is confined to the colored people. The City Council was in special session last Monday evening and passed an ordinance conferring power on the Board of Health to take such measures as might be seen best to prevent the spread of the disease. The Board has adopted rules and regulations, and the Mayor has issued a proclamation enjoining the people to observe a strict and rigid compliance therewith. We repeat that there is no cause for alarm, and the people can come to the city and go from it without the least of danger. The Board of Health is composed of three good physicians, Purviance, Layne, and May, and we are assured by each of them that every precaution is being taken to prevent its further spread. The Mayor's proclamation has been printed in hand bill form, and it would be well that the people read it and acquaint themselves with the rules and regulations of the Board of Health and act accordingly. We have simply stated the facts as they exist and our friends in the country can depend upon them as being correct. Since the above was in type two more cases of varioloid have been reported, that of Mrs. Brown, on Green street, next door to John W. Blair's and another child at Martin's on Pike street. –thanks to Kim H
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 23 May 1874 p5
The epidemic of small post, which prevailed during the first part of the year in 1873, had ended before the present Board was constituted. One of the results of that epidem was the erection of a pest house near the city by the county. The situation of this pest house makes the best city in the State for the isolation of small pox and prevention of the spread of this terrible disease. There has been no caes of small pox within the city limits during the past year. The minor eruptive fevers have prevailed to aconsiderable extent during the past Winter in the city and vicinity. The majority of cases have been mild and few, if any, fatal cases have been reported.
Cholera – during the hot months of last Summer the cholera, which had prevailed as an epidemic in other states finally reached our own and that, too, quite near us. The peculiarity of this epidemic was that it did not particularly choose the larger cities, as heretofore, but prevailed in smaller cities and towns, and even districts in the country not thickly settled were not exempt at all times. But no case of genuine cholera was reported inside our city.
Sanitary regulations – the streets and alleys have, wth a few exceptions, been kept comparatively clean. At least we can boast that Crawfordsvill, as compared with others, is not a dirty city. The privies, as arule, during the hot months were disinfected and cleaned where necessary. A notable exception to this rule is the one situated on the Court House grounds, which nuisance at the present tme earnestly demands the attention of the police force. In addition to this there is a notoriously filthy gutter near the LaFayette Pike just below the brewery. The slaughter houses have not been kept as sweet and clean as, in the opion of the Board, they might be kept with a very little additional labor and expense, but have greatly improved over their condition in years previous. The pig pen ordinance lately passed has been working considerable improvement in respect to having them so near to houses as to be a nuisance; also considerable pains have been taken in many instances to keep them in a reasonably clean condition. It is our opinion that pens built on the ground omit less bad odors and gaes than when built with board floors, as the earth itself is a great disinfectant, and we have been in the habit of recommending them so built. We have always insisted that all dead animals should be buried as per ordinance providing that they shall be. But a bad habit has been formed by many of dragging their dead animals to the bank of the river (sic – there isn’t one but they likely called Sugar Creek a river at that time) and leaving them there with little or no covering.
There has been some complaint of several ponds containing stagnant water during warm weather and n doubt produces a considerable amount of malaria, which should in some manner, be abated as public nuisances.
In conclusion we would state that although there has been considerable fatality among old people and those having chronic disease and owrn out and enfeebled constitutions, yet there has not been during the past year any epidemics peculiar to our climate and locality, such aspernicious fever, dysentery and spotted fever… WL May; SW Purviance; WL Johnson – Board of Health
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 14 March 1902 p 1
The two Northcuts who were taken with smallpox at Ladoga a few weeks ago, have been removed to the detention hospital and the most stringent measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease. No new cases are reported so far.