Smallpox, which is believed to have originated over 3,000 years ago in India or Egypt, is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. For centuries, repeated epidemics swept across continents, decimating populations and changing the course of history.
In some ancient cultures, smallpox was such a major killer of infants that custom forbade the naming of a newborn until the infant had caught the disease and proved it would survive.
Smallpox killed Queen Mary II of England, Emperor Joseph I of Austria, King Luis I of Spain, Tsar Peter II of Russia, Queen Ulrika Elenora of Sweden, and King Louis XV of France.
The disease, for which no effective treatment was ever developed, killed as many as 30% of those infected. Between 65–80% of survivors were marked with deep pitted scars (pockmarks), most prominent on the face.
As late as the 18th century, smallpox killed every 10th child born in Sweden and France. During the same century, every 7th child born in Russia died from smallpox.
Edward Jenner's demonstration, in 1798, that inoculation with cowpox could protect against smallpox brought the first hope that the disease could be controlled.
By the 1920's, it had become possible to fight against smallpox; however, no real effective cure had yet been developed.
In Poteau, the great smallpox epidemic broke out in December of 1921 and would last for more than three months. Within the city, more than 20 people died and many more scored by the ugly after effects of the virus.
The cause of the great smallpox epidemic in Poteau can be blamed on an itinerant hobo. A man who was a carrier of the smallpox virus had been arrested as a vagrant by a deputy sheriff and placed in the LeFlore county jail. Not knowing that the person carried the virus, the jailor put him in with the general population of prisoners. As a result, other prisoners, as well as law officers and visitors to the jail, were exposed to the virus and contracted the disease.
The prisoner had been in Kansas City, Missouri, from November 16 to November 27, during which time an epidemic of smallpox was present in that city. This man had been vaccinated forty-four years previously, but not since.
The first signs that the prisoner was sick were noticed on December 5. The case was reported to the city health officer on December 18th, thirteen days later. In the meantime he had been in contact with thirty other prisoners and with the county officials. Once the health officer was notified, he sat about offering vaccinations to the other prisoners who desired it. Throughout the epidemic, from December 21, 1921, to January 5, 1922, eighteen cases appeared among the other prisoners.
Although the original patient recovered, every prisoner in the jail who had not been vaccinated contracted the disease. Ten prisoners who had been successfully vaccinated within the three preceding years did not contract the disease, although they had been in intimate contact with virulent cases.
At first, the virus had been contained within the jail, but as law enforcement officers and visitors began to become infected, it quickly spread throughout the city.
A widespread panic occurred once people learned that the virus was loose in the city. During the height of the outbreak, those infected were quarantined within their homes. With guards patrolling outside, yellow ribbons were hung in the doorways to warn others that the people inside were infected with the virus. Food would be brought to the homes and left on the doorstep. Anyone who was suspect of having the virus were ostracized, and those who did have it were virtually abandoned.
Government health officials soon got involved and set up a plan in order to control and eradicate the virus. The city government of Poteau issued a Health Proclamation imposing a strict quarantine on persons and places exposed to the smallpox virus and requiring valid vaccinations of all persons in the community.
Health Proclamation:
It having come to the knowledge of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Poteau, that there exists at this time in the City of Poteau, the contagious disease known as Small Pox, and it being immediately necessary for the public health and for the public good of the community that restrictive measures be adopted to prevent the spread of this disease, the following rules and regulations respecting quarantine of Small Pox patients and persons having been exposed or suspected of having been exposed to Small Pox, will be enforced in the City of Poteau:
"FIRST: A rigid quarantine must be enforced against all persons infected with the disease of small pox; also the premises where the disease is found to exist, and all persons who may have been exposed in any way by contact with the patient or the premises. All persons who go about the residence portion of the City of Poteau, should keep a close look-out for placards and yellow flag, and should avoid contact however slight with persons or premises where the disease is shown to exist. Likewise all people should be careful in associating with persons who may be sick or ailing, and should report such cases coming to their knowledge to the City Health Authorities.
SECOND: That no person be allowed to enter or leave the premises where small pox exists, except physicians and nurses. That persons who may be exposed to the disease shall be isolated from the public and remain under strict quarantine until such time as may be prescribed by the City Health Authorities for their release. That any and all persons who may be suspected of having been exposed to the disease by contact with small pox patients or with the premises where the disease is known to exist shall be kept under quarantine for such period as may be prescribed by the Health Authorities of the City of Poteau.
THIRD: That all persons who have not been successfully vaccinated within the three years immediately prior to the publication of this proclamation, should proceed at once to have themselves vaccinated, and this rule should apply to all members of each family residing within the corporate limits of the City of Poteau, and all vaccination should be had under the direction of some duly licensed and practicing physician.
FOURTH: That any and all pupils attending the public school in the City of Poteau, be required to submit certificates of vaccination had during the last three years, or submit to vaccination at this time showing certificate thereof on or before the 4th day of January, 1922. Any pupil or pupils failing to comply with the above regulations, will be suspended from the public schools of the City of Poteau for such period of time as may be deemed best by the City Health Authorities of the City of Poteau.
FIFTH: That any and all persons who may be found to violate any of the above rules and regulations may be dealt with under the summary manner prescribed by law for eradicating epidemic diseases among the people.
SIXTH: The City Board of Health respectfully invites the cooperation of the law abiding citizens in the City of Poteau, looking toward the eradication of this disease among our citizens in the Town of Poteau.
SEVENTH: That an emergency is hereby declared to exist by reason of the danger to the public of the City of Poteau, and that by reason thereof, this proclamation shall be in effect immediately from and after its passage and publication in bulletin form. Passed and approved on this the 30th day of December 1921. Published and made effective from and after 4 o'clock, December 31st, 1921.
CHARLES E. SCOTT, Mayor.
J. M. BOLGER, City Physician.
Attest: EARL MYATT, City Clerk."
The state health commissioner assumed charge of the epidemic on January 15 and immediately instituted control measures. All persons who refused to be vaccinated were placed under quarantine, and all the small towns in the vicinity of Poteau were quarantined against that city. After the state health commissioner took charge, he promptly issued this report:
Report by Dr. A. R. Lewis, State Health CommissionerIt took a combination of city government, the county health inspector, and the efforts of the local population to get the smallpox epidemic under control. By the end of February, 1922, the virus had finally been vanquished.
From many sections of the state reports are being received of more less serious outbreaks of smallpox. Within the last three days, more than a thousand points of smallpox vaccine have been sent out to physicians by the State Health Department.
Reports indicate that the disease is of a more virulent nature than for many years. One town on the east side reports a death from black smallpox, the patient having contracted the disease in Kansas City.
Smallpox is a loathsome, dangerous disease often mild, but frequently fatal. It is spread from person to person and is very 'catching.' It sometimes leaves a person pock-marked for life.
The prevention of smallpox depends primarily upon two things (1) Vaccination; and (2) upon isolation and disinfection. Vaccination is no longer an experiment. As an absolute safeguard against smallpox it has been known for many years, and has been tested out in every clime and under every condition. People who are vaccinated are not in any danger of getting smallpox, but people who are not vaccinated are always exposed to chance of infection.
Vaccination consists in the introduction of vaccine virus into the skin. When properly cared for it is not more dangerous than any pin scratch on the skin. It protects you against smallpox. Even after a number of years when protection is lessened, smallpox is still much less fatal than in unvaccinated persons.
Vaccination is not a question that concerns the individual alone. No person has a right to argue that he is will to take chances of having a yellow placard tacked on his door in preference to the slight inconvenience of being vaccinated. The unvaccinated person is not only a menace to himself, but he is a source of danger to his family, to his friends and to the entire community.
If you have not been vaccinated within the past five year, go to your doctor and get vaccinated today. Have every member of your family vaccinated."
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