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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEpidemics, Infectious Diseases and QuarrantinesEpidemics, Infectious Diseases and Quarantines compiled by Bill Page 17 September 2007 1844 / 1845: unknown disease marked by fever and lung congestion 1846 / 1847: pneumonia 1863: Smallpox 1863: Dec. 26 -Saturday ... While lodging with Bro. Iglehart in Millican we heard that smallpox was in town, so we had our little daughter, Lidie, vaxinated by Dr. SIMS. [See W.S. South Journal, in Hull Papers, Cushing Library, Texas A&M University, box 1-9] 1864: Yellow fever Anderson, Tex., October 15, 1864 Lieutenant Brashear, Commanding Provost Guard, Millican: The yellow fever having broken out amongst the prisoners, it is necessary in order to prevent its spreading to the guard and the prisoners to scatter them into the country at points not too far from the railroad. You will therefore divide the prisoners into squads of from eight to ten, sending a guard of sufficient strength (from fifteen to twenty-five) to guard the worst class of prisoners, and such as may be acclimated, at Millican. You will remain at Millican yourself, as I am told you have had the yellow fever, and do everything in your power to make the condition of the sick as comfortable as possible. To effect this, you are hereby authorized to impress cotton to make mattresses and beading for the sick, as well as anything else necessary for their comfort, observing the provisions of the impressment law. As soon as these different parties locate themselves, direct the officer in charge of each to inform you of their localities, so that you can communicate with them when necessary. Doctor Cade has been ordered to remain at Millican. J.G. Walker, Major-General, Commanding. After the prisoners were sent to Millican, a few cases of yellow fever occurred there. The extent of that outbreak is not known, nor whether anyone died of the fever there. (Lisarelli, Daniel Francis, The Last Prison: The Untold Story of Camp Groce CSA, Parkland, FL: Universal Publishers, 1999, pages 107-109; also The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, volume 7, page 994; also Keating, John M, A History of the Yellow Fever, Memphis, TN: Printed for the Howard Association, 1879, page 91: 1864 ... Galveston ... mortality, 259; Houston, Tex.; Millican, Tex.). 1866: cholera Millican, Nov. 19, 1866 Eds. News - To-day we have but one new cholera case reported. On yesterday, Sunday, five interments; to-day two. We have reason to hope that the epidemic has passed away, and that we shall once more be blessed with health -total whites have died six -Negroes 18 (?). Yours, W. P.S. -There is a fact connected with the progress of cholera here; that when one shall die in a house, nearly all the ... [illegible]. Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 21 November 1866, page 2, col. l From Navasota ... We are informed that there are over one hundred wagons at Bryant's Station loaded with cotton bound for Millican, but in consequence of the cholera at that place the teamsters are afraid to venture into the town ... Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 28 November 1866, page 2, co1.3 Nov. 30th, 1866 Millican, Texas To Mr. E.M. Wheelock: ... We suspended school for 2 weeks, the cholera having made its appearance in town and people were afraid to send their children in consequence ... In my last report I spoke of two schools in town taught by Mrs. Mary McFadden and Octavia Carr; they have not taught for 3 weeks and I presume discontinued the business until next year. Very Respectfully, Mary T. Smith (from Records of the Superintendent of Education for the State of Texas, Bureau of Refu.~ees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1870. National Archives and Records Service, microfilm publication M822, reel 11) An account of the cholera written many years later says: "...The cholera epidemic struck in 1866. Residents in Millican today recall their parents talking about as many as 100 persons dying in the epidemic..." [from "Boom Era Ended for Millican After War, Yellow Fever, Riots," Houston Post, 20 July 1963, reproduced in F.L. Pool's, The Life and Times of F.L. Pool, Millican: The Juggery, 1990, page 372] 1867: Yellow fever [extensive notes available] 1870: Meningitis (extent unknown; 4 children of Harvey Mitchell died) 1870: Measles The measles are prevailing in Bryan. Mrs. Capt. Henderson died there on Tuesday last. Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 18 March 1870, page 3 Jo Goodwin, died, aged 1; girl; died Feb.1870, measles; born TX. 1870 Mortality Schedule, family no. 285. 2 Rob. Hall died, aged 22; died Feb.1870, measles; born TX 1870 Mortalitv Schedule, family no. 539. Susan McCullough died, African American; aged 3 months; died Feb.1870, measles; born TX. 1870 Mortality Schedule, family no.548. H. Morrison died, aged 1; boy; died Feb.1870, measles; born TX. 1870 Mortalitv Schedule, family no.285 John Newton died, aged 4; died Feb.1870, measles; born TX. 1870 Mortalitv Schedule, family no.558 Amanda Thrasher died, aged 19; married; died Jan.1870, measles; keeping house; born TX. 1870 Mortality Schedule, family no.? 1873: Yellow fever [extensive notes available] 1878: unknown Brazos County ... There is a great deal of sickness in the country at present, produced by the great amount of wet weather we have been having for five or six weeks past ... Galveston Weekly News, 5 August 1878, page 2, co1.9 1881: measles Bryan, April 13 - A strong norther is blowing to-night. A number of cases of measles in the city and two or three deaths from the same. Dallas Weekly Herald, 21 April 1881, page 7 Bryan, April 14 ... The measles, mumps and whooping cough have caused a falling off in the attendance at the public schools, of about thirty-five per cent. Dallas Weekly Herald, 21 April 1881, page 7 1881 / 1882? -Smallpox. I have not seen any indication of a smallpox epidemic around this time, except for the following reference to a Bryan city ordinance, perhaps indicating some recent concern about that disease? Bryan ... The time given by the small-pox ordinance passed some time since by the City Council expired to-day. Every citizen subject to the contagion who has not been vaccinated, is liable to be fined $25. Galveston Daily News, 18 January 1882, page 1. 1883: pneumonia "Brazos ... Mrs. A.H. Wilkerson, wife of NIr. John E. Wilkerson, hospital steward of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, died of pneumonia Wednesday morning. The remains were conveyed to Millican for interment." Galveston Daily News, 3 February 1883, page 3. "Bryan ... Several deaths have occurred recently at the Agricultural and Mechanical College from pneumonia. Among the number: Mr. John Wilkerman, the drummer, and also his wife. Several more are seriously sick." Galveston Daily News, 6 Feb. 1883, page 1, co1.6; also Waco Daily Examiner, 7 February 1883, page 1 Gardner, ---, Prof.; professor at Texas A&M University; died from pneumonia; buried at Bryan. Galveston Daily News, 9 February 1883, page 1, col. 5; 16 February 1883, page 1, col. 6 1884: Pneumonia For example: McFall (also see McPhall) Mr. [James] McFall died from pneumonia; buried at Boonville; his wife and their daughter, Mrs. Higgins, also died at about the same time; their son was not expected to live. Galveston Daily News, 24 March 1884, page 4, co1.7. 1884: unknown Allen Farm ... A great deal of sickness prevails, owing to the hot weather and scarcity of good water. Galveston Daily News, 22 September 1884, page 1. 1885: unknown Millican ... The weather has caused a great deal of sickness in and around here. Cattle are dying very fast from the want of food and excessively cold weather. Galveston Daily News, 12 February 1885, page 2 1891: Smallpox Bryan, Tex., Jan. 18 - A well defined case of small-pox in confluent form was discovered here this morning. The patient is a Negro boy about 18 years of age who came up from Houston about fifteen days ago. Dr. Hall, county health officer, ordered the house in which he is strictly quarantined. The case is outside the city and well isolated and ever precaution is exercised to prevent (illegible). Dallas Morning News, 19 January 1891, page 4 Bryan, Tex., Jan. 21 - No new cases of small-pox have been found. The Negro found on the 18th instant is doing very well under the care of a local nurse. A penthouse has been built and things are arranged to take care of any cases that may be found. Dallas Mornin'~ News, 22 January 1891, page 4 Bryan, Tex., Jan. 25 -The Negro confined at the penthouse outside this city died last night. This is the only case of small-pox that Bryan has had. The News correspondent saw Dr. F.M. Hall, city health officer, this morning and was informed by that gentleman that there was no more small-pox in or near Bryan; never had been any except the case mentioned above, and that he had no fear of there being any 4 more. He added: "Though we are now free from the disease, yet I am not going to let up on a strict quarantine until matters assume a different aspect over the state." Dallas Mornin. News, 26 January 1891, page 8 1897: Local area quarantined against yellow fever occurring elsewhere Bryan, Tex., Sept. 16 -Late this afternoon Mayor Adams issued a quarantine against New Orleans and all other points where yellow fever has been reported. Officers will meet all trains and parties who desire to get off here will be required to show where they came from and produce a clean bill of health. The quarantine also applies to freight and express from infected points. Dallas Mornin' News, 17 September 1897, page 2 Bryan, Tex., Sept. 22 -Upon receipt of the news of a death from yellow fever at Beaumont to-day Health Officer Tabor issued orders taking effect at 12 o'clock to- night that no freight or passenger train will be allowed to stop anywhere in Brazos County until further notice. Health officers have been appointed at College, Wellborn and Millican to enforce quarantine regulations ... (article continues) ... Dallas Mornin. News, 23 September 1897, page 2 Bryan, Brazos Co., Tex., Sept. 29 -Upon receipt of information from Houston today, Health Officer Tabor posted a bulletin that he did not believe the case there was yellow fever. To-night the shotgun quarantine was raised. Papers and other mail will be received and fumigated tomorrow. Passengers from the north know to the health officer, and not from any infected point, will be permitted to get off at the fumigating stations. Dallas Mornin. News, 30 September 1897, page 2 1899: Smallpox Bryan, Tex., Jan. 30 -Two cases of smallpox having been discovered here by the city health officer, Dr. George R. Tabor, he immediately reported the matter to the city council which gave him full authority to take the necessary steps to effectually isolate the cases. This has been done and Dr. Tabor says there is no occasion for alarm and no danger of a spread of the disease. No excitement prevails. The state health officer has been notified by Dr. Tabor. Dallas Mornin' News, 31 January 1899, page 4 Bryan, Tex., Feb. 14 -The county commissioners and city council held a meeting here to-day to which Dr. George R. Tabor, health officer, reported the development of one case of smallpox and five cases of varioloid since last Friday. Dr. Tabor says the cases are exceedingly mild. The meeting was held for the purpose of building a penthouse and other incidentals necessary to isolating and treating the cases, all of which are being properly looked after. Dallas Mornin. News, 16 February 1899, page 9 "Dr. Blunt at Bryan," Dallas Mornin. News, 28 March 1899, page 3 Bryan, Brazos Co., Tex., Apri12 -Health Officer Tabor reports one mild case of smallpox discovered in Freedmantown and immediately removed to the penthouse. The patient is a Negro. The health officer also reports one case discharged cured, and he states that all the patients are improving satisfactorily. Dallas Mornin. News, 4 April 1899, page 4 1899: Texas A&M quarantined against disease occurring elsewhere Bryan, Tex., March 4 -The Agricultural and Mechanical College Quarantine against outside points has been raised. Dallas Mornin. News, 5 March 1899, page 3 1901: Varioloid (a mild form of smallpox) at Texas A&M Bryan, Tex., Dec. 10 -Two cases of varioloid have developed at College Station. They were seen today by State Health Officer Tabor, who pronounced them very mild. Dr. Tabor says that are isolated a quarter of a mile from the college buildings under the care of an experienced trained nurse. They are not sick and have no fever and no alarm whatever is felt among the students who have not been exposed at a contagious stage of the disease. Dallas Mornin. News, 11 December 1901, page 10 1903: Smallpox Bryan, Tex., Feb. 17 -County Health Officer R.H. Harrison has just returned from Millican, where he went to investigate a smallpox report. He found five cases of a very bad type and one death last week. The disease is confined to Negroes. The Daily Express (San Antonio), 18 February 1903, page 6 1907: Typhoid "Typhoid at College; Total Twenty-Five Cases," Dallas Mornin. News, 25 May 1907, page 9. The semester was ended early because of the outbreak; "it is believed that the source of infection is the water of an underground cistern, probably contaminated during the recent heavy rains ... distilled water is now being used at the barracks and boiled water at the mess hall ...." 1908: pneumonia on campus "College Station," Houston Chronicle, 2 February 1908, section 2, page 2. Mrs. Murphy of Dallas and Mrs. Jahn of New Braunfels are on campus to be near their sons who are in the hospital with pneumonia. 1908: whooping cough on campus A quarantine was imposed which was a factor in the 1908 student strike at A&M. 6 "Resume Inquiry at A.& M. College," Dallas Mornin. News, 18 June 1908, page 4 The only reference to the Hutson incident was that there was a case of whooping cough at his house and Prof. Harrington ordered a strict quarantine against the Hutson home. 1912: Meningitis on campus (just one case?) "Visit from Col. Milner," Bryan Daily Eagle, 17 January 1912, page 5. Because of a meningitis scare, the campus had been placed under strict quarantine, with guards stationed at every campus entrance. "Health Conditions at A.& M," Dallas Mornin. News, 26 February 1912, page 9. When the students came back to school in January, there were several cases of measles and mumps, "but by judicious isolation and disinfection we were soon able to control the measles, but the mumps, being in some cases so extremely mild, cadets would not in all instances let us know of the fact that they had mumps and, therefore, would not be isolated, and naturally we now and then had a case of mumps." Also gives information on one case of meningitis. 1913: Meningitis on campus "A. & M Cadet Dies; F.Y. Rawlins is Second Victim of Meningitis at College Station," Dallas Mornin. News, 16 January 1913, page 15. A.W. Koons had died previously. College Station, Tex., Jan. 16 - A statement issued here by D.R. Hartman, State Bacteriologist, of Austin, said that the A. & M. College was better fortified against an epidemic of meningitis than any institution or city of which he knew. No new cases developed today and there is no sickness of a serious nature on the college grounds. Dr. Hartman said the precautions taken to prevent a spread of the disease here were all that could be asked. About 200 students have gone home. Dallas Mornin. News, 17 January 1913, page 3 "A.& M. President Refutes Charges," Dallas Mornin. News, 22 February 1913, page 3. In January and February 1913, there were two cases of meningitis and five cases of measles. "During this period we gave nearly 400 cadets the meningitis vaccine..." 1918: Women risk their lives to care for Aggies and soldiers during the influenza epidemic. Miss Clara Bell Hollyfield, a campus nurse, becomes the first known woman (at least to me) to give her life aiding students on campus, when she dies from pneumonia contracted from the sick. See: "Eight Deaths Bryan Record for Day from Pneumonia," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 10 October 1918, p.1, col.1. Miss Clara Bell Hollyfield dies; had only worked on campus since 7 Sept. 1918. Gives lots of biographical information about her. 7 "Thomas W. Rambold and Prof. Brawis Die of Pneumonia," Bryan Weekly Eagle, 17 October 1918, page 1, co1.6. Rambold was attended by his mother & 2 sisters (which seems to have been a common practice during the epidemic); the Professor was taken to a Bryan home by a woman who cared for him. There are, of course, numerous articles about the epidemic ... these are just two examples. Here's another source: Walker, Shirlireed, "Living on South Bryan Avenue During World War I," in Bryan Legends and Le a.~ cies (1996), ed. Betty Foster, pp.80+. Briefly tells about Miss Nannie Berryman, a music teacher in Bryan, going to campus to nurse the sick & one patient whose mother came to take care of him. 1932: Influenza "Aggie Game Postponed Because of Flu Epidemic," Dallas Mornin. News, 8 December 1932, page 10. The college discontinued all extracurricular activities because of the flu. 1940: Influenza "A.& M. Closing Advanced as Flu Spreads," Dallas Mornin. News, 14 December 1940, page 1. Classes were dismissed early for Christmas because of the flu. 1957: Influenza "Texas A&M Reports 600 on Flu List," Dallas Mornin. News, 23 September 1957, page 9. At least 600 cases among the school's 7400 students. 1964: Meningitis on campus (just one case?) "Aggies Taking Shots in Meningitis Scare," Dallas Mornin' News, 3 December 1964, page ?. One student diagnosed with disease. "Classes were not called off, and the fact that a student was standing in line to receive a shot was not a valid excuse for missing classes." "Inoculations End at A&M," Dallas Mornin. News, 5 December 1964, page 8. 4,500 students were inoculated.