The Fort Dodge Messenger: Dec. 1, 1903

Diphtheria Causes Anxiety

Spread of Disease Rapid During Past Few Days

Five New Cases Reported at the City Hall Today – Schools May Be Fumigated Saturday.

Five new cases of diphtheria were reported on the bulletin board at the city hall today. Quarantine was established at the following homes:

Nels Greber, 235 South Thirteenth street, West Fort Dodge.

Gotleib Proeschold, 427 Third avenue south.

Mrs. J.W. Flaherty, 1726 Fifth avenue south.

H.M. Limm, 1216 Eleventh avenue south.

The Kirkpatrick home, 1227 Fifth avenue south.

The rapid spread of the disease has again attracted the attention of physicians, the health authorities and the public in general. The character of the quartine (sic) maintained on homes where the disease exists has not been allowed to relax and so far the health authorities can give no reason for the recent unexpected spread when the disease was thought to be well in  hand. Some physicians say that while diphtheria is not what is usually termed a contagious disease it is nevertheless more contagious than has been supposed.

It is not unlikely that Saturday all the schools of the city will be fumigated and allowed to be aired the following day.

(Editor’s note: Diphtheria was the cause of death of my great-grandmother’s father and sister, and quite likely her two brothers as well, in 1879. All four died in about a three-week period. It is part of the recommended immunization schedule for children in the U.S. and currently there are only about five cases a year. However, this is one of those shots you have to renew about every 10 years, so if you haven’t had one in that time, you might want to see your doctor.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: Aug. 5, 1905

The Mumps Make Trouble For Girls

Shoe Factory Girls Are Having an Epidemic of the Disease

Started About a Week Ago

One Girl Gets Sick and Oothers (sic) Follow – Were Unable to Think for a Time What Was Causing Trouble – Laid it to Toothache.

Few people believe that the disease called the mumps could interfere with the shoe industry, but such has come to be the case.

About a week ago a girl at the local shoe factory was interested in the peculiar appearance of a fellow worker. “Why Lizzie,” she said, “what is the matter with you today? You look so cross your cheeks hang down a foot.”

“They are swollen, you goose,” answered her friend with the abnormal features. I think I must have the toothache, though not a tooth seems to feel bad. I guess it is down in the roots of the tooth and that is what makes the swelling.”

“But what makes both sides of your face swell that way, you look like a pocket gopher?”

“It’s sympathy,” answered another girl, who had stepped up at this moment. “One side hurts and the other side swells for sympathy.”

The talk ceased for a time and nothing was thought about the affair until the girl with the swollen features did not come down to work the next morning and a couple of the others, the ones who had talked with her the day before found themselves with jaws of unusual proportions.

“Now that can’t be sympathy for Lizzie that makes us get that kind of a swelling,” said they. “We must have caught it from her and we had better see a doctor.” A doctor told them that they were suffering from mumps and then everything was clear.

Since that time several more girls have been taken sick and there bids fair to be a temporary shortage of employes (sic) unless the ravages of the disease are stopped.

(Editor’s note: The first conversation quoted was all in one paragraph with quote marks scattered liberally throughout, but not all in the right places. I attempted to make sense of the conversation by splitting it up into separate paragraphs and placing quote marks where they seemed to make sense. Spelling is as it was in the original article.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: July 24, 1903

Humboldt Pastor Dies of Lockjaw

As Result of Stepping Upon Nail, Rev. Carlson Succumbs to Dread Malady.

Dies in Intense Agony

Stepped Upon Nail a Week Ago Today but Failed to Call Physician Until Thursday, When His Condition Was Past All Assistance.

Humboldt, July 23 – Rev. Mr. Carlson, pastor of the Danish Baptist church, died this morning as a result of stepping upon a nail at his home a week ago today. The wound in the foot developed into lockjaw, death following intense agony.

Rev. Carlson accidentally stepped on the nail while walking near his home. The nail penetrated his shoe and entered his foot, but he failed to call a physician until Thursday. Dr. Churchill of Fort Dodge was called into consultation with the local physicians, but lockjaw, which had set in, had rendered the condition of the patient beyond medical aid.

Deceased had been a resident of Humboldt for fifteen years.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 30, 1904

Mad Dog Scare in Town of Dana

A Crusade Against Dogs is On

Animal Runs Amuck (sic) Thru The Streets and Throws the Whole Town into a Frenzy of Excitement – Many Other Dogs Are Killed.

The annual cry of “mad dog” has started. Yesterday at Dana, a little town ont he Rock Island road about twelve miles south of Gowrie, a rabid dog sent the populace into a frenzy of terror by running amuck (sic) in the streets. Rumor reports several children were bitten more or less seriously and  numerous dogs were infected by bites of the mad animal.

The dog was finally killed and then began a search of the city for the animals which had received bites during the time he had been at large. At six o’clock in the evening a considerable amount of sausage material was lying loose and harmless around the city in the shape of defunct canines. Today the crusade is being continued with zest by the citizens and by sunset the dog that remains alive in that town will have to be able to show an indisputable alibi proving he was out of the neighborhood at the time of the outbreak and exhibit a health certificate from a veterinary into the bargain.

The town is thoroughly aroused over the matter. It is not known how long the animal had been showing symptoms of the disease, where he had been nor how many animals have been infected by its ravages. The people of the town will keep a close lookout and tremble at the approach of anything that looks like a dog for the next sixty days, or until there is no further possible danger from this source.

The disease, where contracted by infection, usually makes its appearance in the victim in the period of nine days. In some cases, however, the malady has been known to lie dormant in the blod (sic) for months and then at some unexpected time and place break out with as much sudden violence as though it had come at the usual time. The animal or person once bitten is not safe from an attack of the disease even after the lapse of months.

(Editor’s note: I had thought the reference in the last paragraph to an incubation period of months after being infected would prove to be an old wives’ tale. However, the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health states that the incubation period ranges from 10 days to seven years.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 28, 1903

Fear Scarlet Fever Epidemic

Physicians of City Say That There is Considerable Danger

Many Have Been Exposed.

Two Cases of the Disease Are Found in the City and Are Under Quarantine.

The physicians of this city greatly fear that an epidemic of scarlet fever is about to break out among the children of the city.

Two cases of this dreaded child malady are already reported. They are the little daughter of Mrs. Minnie Slinkerd and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Silver.

Scarlet fever is one of the most contagious diseases known and it is stated that several hundred children have been exposed. The case of Miss Slinkerd was so mild that a physician was not called and it was not known until Wednesday afternoon that she was just recovering from scarlet fever, this being the stage at which the disease is most contagious, as the scars are dropping off and the disease germ is most easily distributed.

While the case of Miss Slinkerd is very mild, medical men say that the most serious cases may be contracted from persons who are mildly affected. Prominent physicians when interviewed this morning said that they considered an epidemic almost inevitable as scarlet fever is the most contagious disease known.

Scarlet fever is one of the severe diseases of childhood and has the  highest mortality in the early spring and late fall when houses are usually inadequately heated, and the children’s vitality is low. Physicians says (sic) that if an epidemic is to occur is it fortunate that is should happen in the summer when children are well and able to be in the sunshine and are not confined to school. It is urged that the parents see that their children have plenty of exercise and take special care in regard to cleanliness and proper food. There is absolutely no way of warding off the malady by confining them. The only preventative is to keep children in the best of health when there is less danger of contagion.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 3, 1903

Short Messages

Mr. and Mrs. W. Kopp are the proud parents of a baby girl.

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L.S. Braunstein made a business trip to Duncombe Wednesday.

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Arthur Lungren is confined to his home by an attack of la grippe.

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Miss Florence Parsons is clerking in the Gates Dry Goods store for a short time.

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Miss Margaret Mahoney is on the sick list today and not able to be at work.

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Fire Marshal J.W. Lowrey is recuperating from his recent illness in Colfax.

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Miss Harriet Major has left Fort Dodge for Decatur, Illinois, where she will make her future home.

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Mrs. John Steinbrink has returned to her home in Manson after undergoing a successful operation at the city hospital.

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John Hein of Chicago, is making a few day’s visit in this city.

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Mrs. C.D. Case entertained Wednesday evening in honor of her brother, Walter Anderson, who is visiting in this city.

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Mr. Early’s Methodist Sunday school class will hold a handkerchief bazaar in the east window of the Early Music house during the next ten days.

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P.A. Carson who has been at the city hospital during the past two weeks because of appendicitis has recovered. Mr. Carson’s home is on Round Prairie Hill.

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Dr. T.E. Devereaux left today for the Black Hills where he has interest in a mine. During his absence, his brother, Dr. C.H. Devereaux of Humboldt will attend to his office.

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Green B. Morse the famous race man with eighteen of his horses and seventeen men passed thru the city Tuesday night enroute from San Francisco (to) Gravesend, New York.

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Mrs. C.D. Case entertained Wednesday evening in honor of her brother, Walter Anderson who is visiting in this city. Miss Cromwell of Kansas City has gone to Humboldt for a visit at the Dr. McCreight home.

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The new carpet cleaning wheel at the Sherman laundry has been put up and is in operation. This system of cleaning is an innovation in the city, and it is promised that it will far exceed the old broom stick method.

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Wednesday at 3 o’clock, Henry Hale and Miss Katie Harbach, both of Kalo were married at the home of Emory Smith in this city. Only relatives were present at the ceremony which was performed by Rev. McIntire of the Christian Church.

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Three drunks were docketed at the police court this morning. All plead guilty and were given the usual $7.10. None of the prisoners having the wherewithal and this being their first offense they were dismissed. Their names were: John Seburg, Henry Adams and Frank Myers.

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The first of the three classes at the German Lutheran school received examinations this morning, which if passed, will signify the completion of work in the German school. The second class will receive its examination on Friday morning. Those of the highest class who have completed their required work will be confirmed on Easter Sunday.

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A good sized delegation of Webster County people came up to attend the performance of “The Chaperons,” at the Midland on Wednesday evening. Among the party were the following:

George C. Tucker, city editor of the Freeman-Tribune, and wife.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 31, 1903

Dread Smallpox Appears Near Vincent

John Simon and Family, Five in All, Have Been Closely Quarantined.

Vincent, March 31 – Vincent people are greatly agitated over the breaking out of two genuine small pox cases at the John Simon Home one half mile south and three miles east of that place.

Mr. and Mrs. Simon and son Joseph and daughter Edith and Stora have all broken out with the malady. The place has been quarantined, but many of the neighbors and some Vincent people are said to have visited at the Simon place before it was discovered that the Simons were stricken with the dreaded disease. As practically all Vincent people have been vaccinated many cases of the genuine smallpox cannot break out.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 30, 1906

EXTRA

Mad Dog in the East End

Police Shoot Animal Taken With Rabies at Two O’Clock This Afternoon.

An excited telephone call from east end residents received at the police station shortly before two o’clock this afternoon made known the fact that a dog evidently mad was running around at fourteenth street and fourth evenue (sic) south, foaming at the mouth and snapping viciously at other canines and pedestrians.

Chief Tullar and Captain Grant made a trip post haste to that part of the city and found the report true to detail. The animal was a terrier and showed unmistakable signs of rabies. he was instantly shot by the officers. It is not thought that any other animals were bitten.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 26, 1903

H.A. Sampson is threatened with typhoid fever.

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Lester Heywood was in Fort Dodge over Sunday. -Manson Democrat

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The office of the Prusia Hardware company is being thoroughly cleaned and repainted.

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Marriage licenses were issued at the county clerks office Wednesday to the following persons: Frank Mars and Anna Jacobson of Boxholm, also to Fred B. Lynde of Stratford and Stella E. Eslick of Warner, Iowa.

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Charles Bobziene, a teamster, while standing on load of coal Wednesday, slipped and lost his balance from a sudden jerk of the horses. He fell to the pavement and sustained a severe sprain of his ankle.

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At a recent meeting of the base ball enthusiasts of Tobin college, Terry Doyle was elected captain and Alpha Butts manager. Captain Doyle hopes to have his line-up ready at an early date, so a schedule of games may be arranged.