1872 — Smallpox, esp. Philly/2591, NYC/1666, St. Louis/1600, Baltimore/1217, Boston/1K–>9,742
— >9,742-9,744 Wayne Blanchard tally[1] based on State and/or locality breakouts below.[2]
Summary of State Breakout
District of Columbia ( 75)
Illinois ( >656) Chicago (655)
Kansas ( 15-16) Especially Silver Lake near Topeka
Kentucky ( >2)
Maine ( >6)
Maryland ( 1,217) Baltimore (1,215)
Massachusetts ( 1,040) Boston
Missouri (~1,600) St. Louis
New Jersey ( >201) Camden County especially
New York ( 1,666) New York City
North Carolina ( 10-11)
Ohio ( 663) Cincinnati especially (658)
Pennsylvania ( 2,591) Philadelphia (2,585)
Totals: 9,742-9,744
Breakout of 1872 Cholera Fatalities by State and Locality (where noted)
District of Columbia[3] ( 75)
— 75 Wash, DC, year. Eliot in Annual Rpt. District of Columbia Commissioners. 1895, 1300.[4]
— 2 Jan “Mortuary Report,” in Report of the DC Health Officer, 1872, p. 184.
— 4 Feb “Mortuary Report,” in Report of the DC Health Officer, 1872, p. 184.
–14 Mar “Mortuary Report,” in Report of the DC Health Officer, 1872, p. 184.
–22 Apr “Mortuary Report,” in Report of the DC Health Officer, 1872, p. 184.[5]
— 8 Dec 27. Daily Republican, Decatur, IL. “From Washington,” 12-30-1872. p. 4.
Illinois (>656) Chicago (655)
— 1 Bloomington, Jan 23. Son of Mrs. Tammany.[6]
— ? Camp Point Adams County. Cases reported Jan 13.[7]
–655 Chicago. Jan-Dec. Illinois State Board of Health. Fifth Annual Report… 1883, p. 332.
–655 Chicago. US National Board of Health. Annual Report or….1883. 1884, p. 134.[8]
–12 Jan 7-13. Chicago Tribune. “Chicago’s Health….Small-Pox…” 1-17-1872, p. 4.
–19 Jan 21-27. New York Times. “Small-Pox in Chicago.” 2-1-1872, p. 1.[9]
— ? Peoria, Jan 11. Three cases reported.[10]
Kansas: (15-16) Especially Silver Lake near Topeka
— 1-2 Alma area. Western Home Journal, Lawrence. “Letter from Wabaunsee Co.” 2-22-1872, 2.
— ? Kansas City. Cases reported Dec 28. Leavenworth Times. “The Small-Pox,” 12-28-1872, 4.[11]
–~12 Silver Lake area, Shawnee County, near Topeka.[12]
–1 Dec 12. John Paul Moats, 36-37 years-old.[13]
— 2 South Cedar area, week of Dec 23-29.[14] Fenton.
— ? Topeka. Cases reported Dec 28. Leavenworth Times. “The Small-Pox,” 12-28-1872, 4.
Kentucky ( >2)
— ? Lexington “Nov 2. – 48 cases of small-pox in Lexington.”
— ? Louisville. “Nov. 12 – Over 100 cases of small pox at Louisville.”[15]
— ? Louisville. Nov 20 report: “Louisville has the small-pox pretty badly.”[16]
— 2 New Albany, Nov 24. Charles E. Hulse of Jeffersonville, and Miss Mollie Miller.[17]
Maine: ( >6)
— ? Bangor, Dec 13. New York Times. “Small-Pox in Bangor, Me.” 12-14-1872, p. 1.[18]
— ? Bangor, Dec 17. “Small-pox is raging in Bangor, Maine.” Gazette, Port Jervis, NY.[19]
— 2 Hampden, Dec. Daily Kennebec Journal, ME. “State News,” 12-21-1872, p. 3.
— 1 Portland, Dec. Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, ME. “From Portland,” 12-16-1872, 3.
— 3[20] Portland, Dec. Dubuque Herald, IA. Dec 22, 1872, p. 1.
Maryland: (1,217) Baltimore (1,215)
–1,215 Baltimore. Quinan, John R. Medical Annals of Baltimore From 1608-1880. 1884, p. 45.
— 2 Beaver Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Denham, mid-Aug.[21]
— 1,040 Boston Total for duration. Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, 9-6-1894, 230.
— 1,029 Boston? Boston Med. Jour. “Registration Report of [MA] for the Year 1881.” 498-499.
–>1,000 “ Forgotten New England. “Worries of the Past: Smallpox and Boston’s…1872.”
— 738 “ Eliot in Annual Rpt. of District of Columbia Commissioners. 1895, p. 1300.
— 16 “ Oct 27-Nov 2. NYT. “Decrease of Small-Pox at Boston.” 11-3-1872, p. 1.[22]
— 53 “ Nov 24-30. NYT. “Another Fatal Fire…Small-Pox in Boston.” 12-1-1872, p1.[23]
— 51 “ One-week mid-Dec. Centerville Citizen, IA. 12-28-1872, p. 3.
Missouri: (~1,600) St. Louis
— >3 Kansas City. Deel. Storied & Scandalous Kansas City. “Pest House Island.” 2019, p. 132.[24]
–1 Mary Ann (Gillis) Troost, Dec 27. Find A Grave. “Mary Ann Gillis Troost.”
— ? Sedalia, Nov 13, cases reported. Neosho Valley Register, Iola KS. 11-23-1872, p. 2.
— 1,600 St. Louis. May-Dec 5. Jones County Liberal, Monticello, IA. “The South,” 12-5-1872, 4.
— 1,591 St. Louis. AP. “St. Louis continues to be focal point against smallpox.” 12-28-2002.
–>1000 “ May-Nov. Jones County Liberal, Monticello, IA. “The South,” 11-28-1872, 1.
— 927 “ May 10-Nov 24. Daily Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME. 11-25-1872, p. 3.
— 95 “ Week ending Nov 3. Alton Telegraph (IL). Smallpox in St Louis,” 11-29-1872, 3
— 105 “ Week ending Nov 10. Alton Telegraph (IL). Smallpox in St Louis,” 11-29-1872, 3
— 145 “ Week ending Nov 17. Alton Telegraph (IL). Smallpox in St Louis,” 11-29-1872, 3
— 139 “ Week ending Nov 24. Alton Telegraph (IL). Smallpox in St Louis,” 11-29-1872, 3
New Jersey ( >201) Camden County especially
–>201 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
— 1 Burlington County. Revaccinated adult. Med. Society of NJ. Transactions… 1872, 215.
— 157 Camden Co., Camden. Medical Society of NJ. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, 248.
–1 Charles Borton, Feb 19. Find A Grave. “Charles Borton.” 2-27-2009 addition.
— ? Cape May County. “…a few cases of Small Pox, imported from Philadelphia.”[25]
— >3 Cumberland County. “…endemic in Millville for a short time…”[26]
— 24 Essex County, Newark. Med. Society of NJ. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 218.
— Lewis Ross and Gottleib Schiller. NYT. “Small-Pox in New-Jersey.” 2-13-1872, p.1.
— 2 Gloucester County. Medical Society of NJ. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 219.
— >3 Hudson County, especially Jersey City.[27]
–1 Jersey City, Feb 12. Jacob Wilhelm. NYT. “Small-Pox in New-Jersey.” 2-13-1872, p.1.
–1 Jersey City, City Hospital, May 15. NYT. “The Small-Pox in New-Jersey.” 5-16-1872, p5.
–1 Jersey City, Aug 13. Male residing at No. 205 Railroad-avenue.[28]
— 1 Hunterdon County, Lambertville, out of ten cases.[29]
— ? Mercer County, especially Trenton in July.[30]
— ? Middlesex County.[31]
— 11 Passaic County, out of 24 cases. Med. Society of NJ. Transactions…1872. 1872, p. 222.
–? Patterson, Jan 4. Reported as “an epidemic in Patterson and other New Jersey towns.”[32]
–1 Paterson, April 5. Everett Torbett, 4 years 8 months. Find A Grave. Torbett.
— ? Warren County, Phillipsburg, “where it prevailed to a considerable extent.”[33]
— 1 Location not noted, March 20, patient aged 22. Medical Society of NJ, 1872, p. 287.[34]
New York: (1,666) New York City
— 4 Brooklyn, bodies in “dead-house” of small-pox hospital at Flatbush, seen by Mayor.[35]
— ? Monticello, cases reported. NYT. “Small-Pox Excitement in Orange County.” 4-14-1872, 2.[36]
–1,866 NYC. Rosner. Hives of Sickness: Public Health and Epidemics in [NYC]. 1995, 31.[37]
–1,666 “ Jan-Dec. Atkins. Health, Housing, and Poverty in [NYC], 1865-1898. 1947.
–1,666 “ NYC Dept. of Health… Summary of Vital Statistics 2009. Dec 2010.[38]
— 929 “ Annual Report of Dept. of Health of the City of New York…1911-1912, p. 227.
–20 Jan 7-13. NYT. “The Public Health…Weekly Rpt. on Contagious Diseases.” 1-25-1872, 6.
–25 Jan 14-20. NYT. “The Public Health…Weekly Rpt. on Contagious Diseases.” 1-25-1872, 6.
— 8 May 12-13. NYT. “Contagious Diseases – Small-Pox Abroad.” 5-14-1872, p. 8.[39]
— ? Thompson City, cases reported. NYT. “Small-Pox Excitement in Orange County.” 4-14-1872, 2.
— 8 Summerville, Harnett Ct. Late Nov. Petersburg Index, VA. “NC Items,” 12-3-1872, 7.
— 2-3 Harnett Ct. Mid-Dec. Petersburg Index, VA. “North Carolina Items,” 12-29-1872, 2.
Ohio ( 663) Cincinnati especially (658)
–658 Cincinnati. U.S. National Board of Health Bulletin, V3, N28, 1-7-1882, p. 229.[40]
–172 Jan –136 Feb –113 March –81 April –59 May –43 June
— 23 July — 32 August — 7 Sept. — 4 October — 5 November — 3 Dec
–658 Cincinnati. Twitchell. “The Prevention of Smallpox.” The Lancet-Clinic, 1906, p 693.
— 1 Washington Ct. Late Dec. Portsmouth Times, OH. “Brevities,” 12-28-1872, p. 3.
–3-4 West Newton. Allen County Democrat, Lima, OH. “From West Newton,” 12-10-1872, 2.
Pennsylvania: (2, 591) Philadelphia (2,585)
–2,591 Blanchard tally of breakouts below.
–2,585 Philadelphia City of Philadelphia. Annual Report (Vol. III), 1907, p. 99.[41]
–2,585 Philadelphia. Eliot in Annual Rpt. Of DC Commissioners. 1895, p1300.[42]
–1,890 Philadelphia. Wells. “Meteorology and Epidemics of Philadelphia,” AJMS, 1873, 134-5.
–347 Under one-year old. Wells 1873, 134.
–188 1-2 years of age. Wells 1873, 134.
–293 5-10 years of age. Wells 1873, 134.
–152 10-15 years of age. Wells 1873, 135.
–195 15-20 years of age. Wells 1873, 135.
–474 20-30 years of age. Wells 1873, 135.
— ? Not listed
–144 40-50 years of age. Wells 1873, 135.
— 65 50-60 years of age. Wells 1873, 135.
— 35 60-70 years of age. Wells 1873, 135.
— 7 70-80 years of age. Wells 1873, 135.
–1,000 Philadelphia, December. Medical Society of New Jersey, 1872, p. 248.
— 2 Wellsburg, near Erie Greenville Advance, Greenville, PA. 12-5-1872, p. 3.
— 4 Yorkville, Koch children. NYT. “A Family Destroyed by Small-Pox.” 8-28-1872, 8.[43]
Narrative Information
Illinois
Jan 17: “The small pox is making its appearance in different parts of the State, and is very virulent, as a general thing, this season.” (Bloomington Daily Leader, IL. “Hash,” 1-17-1872, p. 4, col. 1.)
Kansas
Feb 8 report: “The small-pox is prevailing in Wabaunsee county, in the Bertine settlement, on the west branch of Mill creek, twelve miles from Alma. The Union has heard of fourteen cases in five families.” (Western Home Journal, Lawrence, KS. “State News.” 2-8-1872, p. 2., col. 4.)
Feb 12 report: “The small-pox has made its appearance in Wabaunsee county, on Mill creek, near Alma…and one or two deaths….” (Western Home Journal, Lawrence, KS. “Letter From Wabaunsee Co.” 2-22-1872, p. 2, col. 3.)
March 28 report: “In consequence of the prevalence of the small-pox at Alma, Judge Morton decided not to hold court in Wabaunsee county this spring.” (Western Home Journal, Lawrence, KS. “State News.” 3-28-1872, p. 4., col. 3.)
April 4 report: “Small-pox closed the Humboldt schools for a while,[44] but they were in session during my visit though the number in attendance was small.” (Western Home Journal, Lawrence, KS. “Humboldt.” 4-4-1872, p. 2, col. 3.)
Dec 7 report: “Small pox is prevailing to an alarming extent in several of the cities east and the last reports show that it has made its appearance in different portions of Kansas. Take no chances but have the children all vaccinated before it is too late.” (Neosho Valley Register, Iola, KS. 12-7-1872, p. 3.)
Kentucky
“Thursday, November 28. Lexington has 125 cases of small-pox.” (Logansport Weekly Journal, IN. “News of the Week,” 11-30-1872, p. 2.)
“The spread of small-pox through Kentucky during the last two weeks is alarming. The local papers of nearly every town in the central part of the State give lists of new cases.”(Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, OH. “General Variety,” 12-13-1872, p, 3.)
Maine
“Another case of small-pox has appeared in Calais.” (Daily Kennebec Journal, ME. “State News,” 11-30-1872, p. 3.)
“The Journal says there are but four cases of small-pox in Lewiston and four in Auburn, and these have all been removed to isolated places away from the thickly peopled parts of the cities.” (Daily Kennebec Journal, ME. “State News,” 12-19-1872, p. 3.)
Massachusetts
Forgotten New England: “….The smallpox epidemic of 1872 claimed over 1,000 lives before it finally abated in the first weeks of 1874.
“During the 1872 epidemic, smallpox victims, or even those suspected of having smallpox, were brought, sometimes against their will, to Gallop’s Island in Boston Harbor. During the epidemic, those who could not get to the island or afford care there, were re-directed to the city’s smallpox hospital on Albany Street. The hospital, overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of smallpox infections, quickly found its 30-patient capacity stretched to 48. Charges soon emerged that those admitted to the Boston Smallpox Hospital on Albany Street did not receive proper care or food and that they were forced to endure substandard conditions. The testimony provided by patients and medical staff has been preserved and provides some interesting insights into the experiences of 19th-century hospital patients.
“The main complaint emerging from the hearings seems to have been the casualness around the enforcement of the smallpox quarantine. Several hospital patients claimed seeing the hospital’s gates open at different times of the day. Others reported seeing smallpox patients come in very close contact with women who came into the hospital yard to collect rags or boys who had come to collect nails. Several saw sailors near the hospital’s gates. Nearly all could not recall ever seeing the red flag (indicating smallpox contagion) hung at the gates to warn passersby and visitors of the smallpox infection inside.
“Another complaint involved the hospital’s water closet, or bathroom/restroom as we call it today. Nearly all patients complained that the water closets were filthy and that most did not work. Administrators did acknowledge that toilets did not always work and explained the difficulty in finding plumbers who were willing to enter the hospital, make the repairs, and risk infection. Nevertheless, the stench from some water closets was so oppressive that several patients took it upon themselves to clean the water closets.
“Lastly, many patients complained of the food, claiming that there wasn’t enough, or that it was of poor quality. Several claimed that eggs or meat that had been served them had gone bad, and in the case of meat, contained maggots.
“In the end, the Smallpox Hospital was closed in September 1872, and patients were once again cared for either in the facilities on Gallop’s Island or in their own homes. Claims charging inadequate food or insufficient care were never substantiated. However, the claims that the hospital was overcrowded and lacked enough help were found to be true. The committee investigating the claims did decide that more nurses were needed, but also considered that patients, when sufficiently healthy, were expected to pitch in too. Regarding the broken toilets, the committee did find that it was indeed broken, but sympathized with the hospital, which claimed, probably quite truthfully, that no one would enter the hospital to fix them because they were afraid of being infected with smallpox themselves.” (Forgotten New England (blog). “Worries of the Past: Smallpox and Boston’s Epidemic of 1872.” 1-13-2012.)
Nov 29: “Boston, Nov 29. In the Massachusetts house of representatives to-day the following act was reported authorizing the State board of health to take measures to prevent the spreading small-pox:
Section 1. The State board of health shall provide immediately suitable accommodations on the main land in the city of Boston for persons sick with the small pos.
Section 2. They may take and use for such purposes any land or buildings necessary for their uses.
Section 3. They shall see that the laws relating to small-pox are enforced in every case where the safety of the people demands….” (Daily Kennebec Journal, ME. “Massachusetts Legislature – Extra Session,” 11-30-1872, p. 3.)
“Alderman Ricker [Boston] offered the following order, which was read twice and passed:
Ordered, that when a person sick with the smallpox cannot be safely removed, the city physician be and he is hereby authorized, as the agent of this board, to declare the house or building, in which said person may be at the time, a hospital; and that he be further authorized to take such measures as may be required to prevent the spread of the disease, either by displaying flags or by stationing guards around said house or building, as in his judgment may be expedient; the expense attending the same to be charged to the appropriation for the health department….
Section 65. The Board of Health shall also have charge of any buildings which are or may be established by the City Council within the city limits, or on the islands in Boston harbor, for the admission of patients having the small-pox or other infectious diseases. And they shall make such rules and regulations for the management and government of the patients and employes as they may deem necessary and proper, subject, however, to the approval of the City Council. And the said board shall carefully guard against the introduction of any cases of infectious disease into any other buildings under their charge, than those appropriated for the purpose by the City Council. (Boston Daily Globe. “Board of Aldermen.” 11-30- 1872, p. 8.)
“There are now twenty-seven cases of small-pox and varioloid in this city. Twelve red flags were hung out yesterday.” (Boston Daily Globe. “Charlestown,” 11-30-1872, p. 8.)
Dec 3 report: “There were 53 deaths from small pox in Boston last week, out of a total mortality of 176.” (Lebanon Daily News, PA. 12-3-1872, p. 1.)
Dec 19 report: “The Traveller says: ‘Boston was never more clearly shown to be a great distributing centre than since the appearance of small-pox in this city. All over New England and the British Maritime Provinces there is accumulating evidence on this point’.” (Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, ME. 12-19-1872, p. 2.)
Dec 28 report: “The small pox is raging in Boston. Last week, out of 133 deaths from all causes, 51 were from that disease.” (Centerville Citizen, IA. 12-28-1872, p. 3.)
Dec 28 report: “An…alarm was caused by the burning of the small pox hospital in the Highland district [Boston], which throws some three hundred small pox patients upon the community.” (Dubuque Herald, IA. “Alarms of Fire—Small-Pox Hospital Destroyed,” 12-28-1872, p. 1.)
Dec 30 report: “The small-pox continues to spread in Boston and the Springfield Republican charges the city authorities with criminal recklessness. At Washington, also, the National Republican says there is an alarming increase of the pestilence.” (Titusville Herald, PA. 12-30-1872, p. 3.)
Michigan
“The small pox has become epidemic at Detroit, and the city Board of Health has adopted a resolution asking the Council for an additional pest house, the present one being overrun with patients.” (Alton Weekly Telegraph, Alton, IL. “News Items,” 12-20-1872, p. 1.)
Missouri
“The small-pox in St. Louis has attained somewhat startling proportions. Private advices from that city state that in places entire streets are cut off from travel by the prevalence of the disease in the buildings adjoining; that the pest house is overflowing; that a building used as a pest house up on the fair grounds is overcrowded, and that three boats along the levee have been chartered and filled with the sufferers.” (Janesville Gazette, Janesville, WI. 12-20-1872, p. 1.)
New Hampshire and Maine
“The small-pox is getting an unpleasant strong foothold down east. Portsmouth, Nashua, and other towns in southeastern New Hampshire, report cases, while in Portland and Bangor the matter is assuming a serious aspect. The schools in the latter city have been closed a week earlier than usual on this account, and there have been several deaths at Portland.”
New Jersey
Health Commission of NJ: “The Reporter of the State Medical Society, in reviewing all our diseases in 1872, says: ‘Small pox has proved itself the scourge of the year.’ In many other years, it is noticed as epidemic in particular counties or districts, and sometimes so in the same city, two or three times….When such a city as Newark reports over two hundred cases in a single year, and Hoboken, Jersey City, Camden, Hudson and other cities have their due proportion, we do not wonder that it finds its way to our extreme counties, and even in rural districts becomes epidemic….” (Health Commission of the State of New Jersey. Report of the Health Commission of the State of New Jersey for the Year 1874. 1874, p. 12.)
Medical Society of NJ: “During the month of August, Small-pox made its appearance in the lower part of the city of Camden, in a neighborhood inhabited mostly by colored people. This part of the town had been only recently annexed to the city of Camden, and its sanitary and hygienic condition was bad in the extreme. The houses and yards were small and filthy, with pig-pens and privy-wells often overflowing, in close proximity to the houses, and a large portion of the houses unprotected by vaccination. Under such adverse circumstances, it was no wonder that the disease spread in this locality. The sanitary committee of the city councils took charge of this district, and had it thoroughly cleaned, and the nuisances removed as far as practicable, and for a time the disease seemed to be held in check, until some time in October, when it increased and spread to the surrounding districts.
“This was coincident with a rapid increase of the disease in the city of Philadelphia, where the weekly mortality increased from eight or ten to sixty-five, and soon assumed the character of an epidemic of unusual severity and fatality. The constant daily intercourse of a large portion of our citizens with Philadelphia no doubt tended greatly to increase the number of cases. So great was the increase in the number of cases, that a small-pox hospital was opened, and has continued in operation to the present time. It was placed under the charge of Dr. R. W. Morgan, one of the members of our District Society, from whom we have obtained some valuable statistics in regard to the disease and its mode of treatment; and it is but just to him to state, that the ratio of mortality of the cases under his care compare very favorably with other small-pox hospitals. The number of cases up to the present time treated in the small-pox hospital was 133, with mortality of 18.02 per ct. [24] The cases treated at their own homes by the city physician was 104, with a mortality of 16.04 per ct. [16] The mortality among the unvaccinated was 34 per ct; this compares favorably with the statistics of the small-pox hospital in Philadelphia, where the total mortality of the whole number was 29.34 per ct.; and taking the unvaccinated cases the mortality was 65 per ct. Both in public and private practice much the larger part of the mortality was among the unvaccinated. Most of the deaths among those who had been vaccinated were from some intercurrent disease.
“Notwithstanding all that has been said and written on the protective power of vaccination, it must be confessed that there is still a great prejudice against it, especially among the less intelligent part of our population. Vaccination was freely offered to all who were unable to make pecuniary compensation for it, by the city authorities, yet many refused to avail themselves of the offer, and cases of natural small-pox were constantly met with during the whole winter.
“A published mortality of 1,000 persons in the month of December alone in Philadelphia, attest the extent of the disease, as well as its fearful mortality; and we are still far from realizing the boast of the immortal Jenner, who, in the first burst of enthusiasm caused by his great discovery, announced that we now had it in our power to banish from the earth one of the most loathsome as well most fatal diseases to which the human family were subject.
“There being no law in the city of Camden compelling physicians to report the cases of small-pox, we are without accurate data to ascertain the total number of cases but, as far as could be gathered from consulting the different physicians, the total number of cases of small-pox may be stated as one thousand in a population near twenty-three thousand. The deaths from small-pox have been 157, showing quite a large mortality from what has been considered by many as a preventable disease.” (pp. 247-248 )
“….It may be mentioned that the disease was very fatal among young children, who were unprotected by vaccination; and the neglect of this operation in many families very much increased our bills of mortality; in fact, as we have already mentioned, much the greater number of deaths were among those who had it in the natural way. Those adults who took the disease had never been vaccinated since infancy – in such cases the protective power of vaccination had been lost by time.” (p. 250)
“Your Reporter has made special inquiries from nearly all our physicians, as to the protective power of vaccination and revaccination, and all agree that it is of the greatest possible benefit. Of the many thousand persons who have been revaccinated during the past six months, but two cases have been reported as taking the small-pox; that is on those who have been revaccinated before exposure to the contagion. Both of these did well, and had the disease in a mild form. So that we may fairly infer, that although we have had so many cases during the past six months, had vaccination and revaccination been universally practiced we should have had very little of the disease. The experience of European countries where compulsory vaccination has been fairly carried out is, the disease has almost entirely ceased for a number of years.
“As a striking instance of the protective power of vaccination, we need only allude to the case of our own physicians, all of whom have been exposed to the contagion for more than six months, often in its most intense form, without a single one of them having the least symptoms of the disease. How different this from epidemics of yellow fever and cholera, where physicians so often fall victims to the disease…” (pp. 250-251) (Medical Society of New Jersey. Transactions of the Medical Society of New Jersey, 1872. 1872.)
Jan 29: “Notwithstanding the statements of the authorities, the small-pox is still said to exist, in an epidemic form, at Hoboken and Union Hill. At one time the disease was so virulent at the latter place that the authorities closed the schools, and they have not been opened, as the school moneys were wanted to secure a whole-sale vaccination. The disease was then thought to have abated, but competent physicians now assert that there are more cases than ever before, and the number is variously estimated at from twenty-five to fifty. What the real number is, on account of the ineffectual measures taken by the authorities to secure returns, cannot be known. Rumor also assigns a large number of cases to the meadow lands back of Hoboken, but they are not reported to the health authorities, and the City Physician, who has been careful in his inquiries, does not believe the disease to exist to any great extent.” (New York Times. “Small-Pox in Hudson County.” 1-29-1872, p. 1.)
March 27: “The Medical Board of the Jersey City Hospital has declared the small-pox to be an epidemic of a virulent form, and has petitioned the Police Commissioners who have charge of the Health Department for increased accommodations, the buildings now used for the reception of contagious cases being overcrowded. They offer their services in the selection of a site, the arrangement of buildings or tents, and in the attendance on cases, and recommend to the people a more general vaccination. Despite the large number of cases, very few have thus far proved fatal.”
(New York Times. “Small-Pox in Jersey City.” 3-27-1872, p. 2.)
May 16: “The small-pox, which has been prevalent in the northern part of New-Jersey, for two years, is largely on the increase. Since the Fall of 1870, not a day, probably, has passed without some cases having been reported, but the number has never been so great as within the last week. This is, in Jersey City, believed to be largely due to the inefficiency of the Health authorities, and the failure to enforce cleanliness in the streets, vaccination and the use of disinfectants. Yesterday, in that city, six cases were reported, and there are now thirty-four patients in the City Hospital, an increase of twenty-six in one week, and a larger number than have ever been in that institution before. One patient died there yesterday, and many cases are known in private families, where they can be properly cared for. Yesterday no less than ten cases were reported in Newark, a larger number than was ever reported in one day before, and the disease is increasing proportionately in other cities.” (New York Times. “The Small-Pox in New-Jersey.” 5-16-1872, p. 5.)
Aug 14: “Cases of small-pox in Jersey City were reported to the Health Inspector yesterday in [17 locations]….The disease appears to be spreading, twenty-seven cases having been reported during the past two days. Thirteen small-pox signs were put up Monday and yesterday. The disease is mostly confined to children, not many adults having been recently affected.” (New York Times. “Small-Pox in Jersey City.” 8-14-1872, p. 5.)
New York
Jan 9: “The report of the Health Officer for last week [Jan 1-7] shows that there were 89 cases of smallpox reported, against 78 cases the week previous. There are 43 vaccinators at work, and they are making slow but sure progress.” (NY Times. “The Smallpox on the Increase.” 1-9-1872, p. 2.)
Jan 25: “The Board of Health met yesterday, President BOSWORTH in the chair. It was ordered that the tenement-house No. 423 West Thirty-sixth-street be vacated by noon on the 27th inst., owing to the prevalence of small-pox on the premises, there having been nine persons removed from the house suffering from small-pox, and three other cases distinctly traced to these. After being vacated the building will be thoroughly disinfected and fumigated.” (New York Times. “The Public Health. A Pest House to be Vacated – Statistics of the Small-Pox Hospital – Weekly Report on Contagious Diseases.” 1-25-1872, p. 6.)
Jan 29: “Health Officer George Cochrane reports a fearful increase of the small-pox during the past week. One hundred cases have been reported, and more are being discovered by the vaccinating doctors daily. Meantime desperate efforts are being made by various parties to discharge cargoes of foreign rags from infected ports, and the Health and Police Departments are engaging all their vigilance in guarding the shores from Green point to New York, to prevent the importation of small-pox.” (NY Times. “Small-Pox on the Increase in Brooklyn.” 1-29-1872, p. 8.)
Feb 18: “Surprise is expressed in all quarters that small-pox has been allowed to assume its present alarming proportions in this City, and the reason for it is freely ascribed by physicians to the neglect of proper disinfection. The Board of Health, which should guide the medical profession in this matter, appears to be the most remiss. In the case of a large number of physicians who faithfully report the facts of contagious diseases under their charge, and ask the advice and counsel of the Board of Health, it is charged that there have been the greatest neglect and inattention on the part of the latter body. The health inspectors are required to call promptly upon all reported cases of contagious diseases, and leave a card of printed directions for the use of disinfectants wherewith to destroy the poison in the air or infected houses, and also to purify the bed and body clothing of the sick. They are further required to call every second day in severe cases, and at least every third day where the disease assumes only a mild form, to assure themselves that the friends of the patient and the attendant physician carry out these instructions intelligently and faithfully. It is charged that until very recently this duty has been entirely neglected in a very large number of cases of small-pox, varioloid, typhoid and scarlet fevers, and other contagious diseases, and that until a few weeks ago families in infected houses and the attending physicians, have received none but the most meagre and indifferent instructions. That these diseases – especially small-pox – have been permitted to go uncontrolled until that have attained their present proportions, is directly attributed by many physicians to this official neglect, and there seems to be good grounds for their complaint….” (New York Times. “Small-Pox Disinfection.” 2-18-1872, p. 3.)
Nov 6: “The Board of Health met yesterday [6th]…The Sanitary Committee presented a report from Dr. E. H. Janes, City Sanitary Inspector, in regard to the increase of small-pox in the City. After reviewing the cases and giving the localities, the doctor stated in his report that every new case has been followed with the proper sanitary measures for the protection of the public – such as isolation of patients, vaccination of exposed persons, together with thorough disinfection and fumigating of all infected premises, which measures he believed are amply sufficient to meet the present indications of the disease….” (New York Times. “Board of Health – The Small-Pox and Sanitary Committee.” 11-7-1872, p. 8.)
Dec 5: “The authorities are becoming thoroughly awakened to the necessity of taking active and stringent measures to avert the spread of the small-pox which is prevailing to an alarming extent in that city.” (Titusville Herald, Titusville, PA. “Buffalo News,” 12-5-1872, p. 3.)
North Carolina
“Battleboro, N.C. Advance, December 14. The town of Nashville, in this State, is certainly the recipient of an unfortunate visitation. Small-pox is now prevailing there in epidemical form, and in consequence the place is almost deserted. Those who remain are cut off, as it were, from communication with the outside world. Deprived of all conveniences….If any should conclude to go away now, so great is the terror among the people that they would be unwelcome visitors even among their own relations….” (The World, NYC. “A Stricken Town,” 12-20-1872, p. 7.)
“The small pox has reached Franklin county, and several persons residing near Louisburg are down with it.” (Petersburg Index, Petersburg, VA. “North Carolina News,” 12-27-1872, p. 5.)
Ohio
“The small pox seems to be working around this way, as cases have recently occurred in Wellsville, Bridgeport, and other Ohio river towns.” (Cambridge Jeffersonian, OH. 12-19-1872, 3.)
“A party of medical students at Cleveland, Ohio, a short time ago, in making a raid on a cemetery for ‘subjects,’ unfortunately exhumed the corpse of a small-pox victim. Result – several students down with the disease, and a general panic in the college.” (Jones County Liberal, Monticello, IA. “The West,” 12-19-1872, p. 1.)
“West Newton, Dec. 19…A young man…near Maysville, was attacked with the small-pox, on the 8th Inst. This morning his physician…of West Newton, considered his case among the most virulent that ever came to his notice. The young man had just returned from Michigan, where, as it is supposed, he came in contact with it….almost every State in the country suffering from it. Some three or four in this township have died.” (Allen County Democrat, Lima, OH. “From West Newton,” 12-10-1872, p. 2.)
Philadelphia
“In looking upon the late epidemic of smallpox as a whole, extending into two years, we may consider it as lasting just one year (from September, 1871, to August, 1872, bot inclusive), for in the last week of August, of both 1871 and 1872, there were no deaths from that cause, and, although in all in the eight preceding months of 1871 there were 29, and in the four succeeding months of 1872, 18 deaths, yet these numbers are so small that I think we are justified in looking upon the epidemic as of just one year’s duration, in which year we find the unprecedented number of 4417 deaths from smallpox alone. In comparing this with previous epidemics, we find not only the total number of deaths far greater, but that there were more deaths in each one of the four months from November 1871, to February, 1872, both inclusive, than ever before in any one year…..” (Wells. “Meteorology and Epidemics of Philadelphia,” AJMS, 1873, p. 136.)
Texas
“From the Two Eagles, we learn that the small-pox is very bad in Laredo, from three to seven dying each day, and that some of the best citizens are lying at the point of death.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “Texas News,” 12-20-1872, p. 1.)
Utah
“The Mormons set apart last Thursday to pray for the abatement of the small-pox that is raging in the Utah valley.” (Portsmouth Times, Portsmouth, OH. “Items,” 12-21-1872, p. 2.)
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The World, NYC. “A Stricken Town” [Smallpox in Nashville]. 12-20-1872, p. 7. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=160291499
Titusville Herald, PA. “Buffalo News” [Smallpox], 12-5-1872, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2841148
Titusville Herald, PA. 12-30-1872, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com
Twitchell, George B, MD (Cincinnati). “The Prevention of Smallpox.” Pp. 693-696 in The Lancet-Clinic (Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery). New Series, Vol. LVI. Cincinnati: Lancet-Clinic Co., Jan-June, 1906. Google preview accessed 4-29-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=4RACAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
United States National Board of Health. Annual Report of the National Board of Health, 1883. Washington, DC: GPO, 1884. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=MtuxEGC1Vp4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=true
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[1] Document created by B. Wayne Blanchard in Jan 2015 and revised in Nov 2019 for incorporation into website: Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-Of-Life Events. Accessible at: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
[2] We consider this a minimum figure. Some locations, such as Camden, NJ, did not require the reporting of smallpox cases. In addition, there surely were some smallpox deaths in States we have not reported on as well as some in States such as Pennsylvania, for which we report essentially only on one location – Philadelphia.
[3] This outbreak, which started during the 1871 winter, was described as an epidemic, the first in DC since one during the winters of 1865 and 1866. (Robert Reyburn, M.D., compiler. “Type of Disease Among the Freed Negroes.” Medical News, Vol. 63, No, 23, 12-2-1893, p. 626.)
[4] Dr. Eliot was Physician in Charge of the Smallpox Hospital in the District of Columbia the year of the report.
[5] Report is for the quarter ending April 30, 1872. There were 149 reported cases, thus 1 death for every 3.5 cases.
[6] Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. 1-26-1872, p. 3, column 2.
[7] Quincy Herald, IL. “Small-Pox,” 1-18-1872, p. 4, column 1.
[8] “Table of mortality from small-pox in the city of Chicago from 1851 to 1882, inclusive.” At page 127 it is written: “In 1872 there was a marked increase of both foreign and domestic immigration into Chicago, attracted by the rebuilding of the city after the great fire. The deaths from small-pox during this year were 655…”
[9] “Chicago, Ill., Jan. 31. – The Sanitary Superintendent’s report shows that there were nineteen deaths from small-pox during the past week, and declares that the disease is on the increase. There are now twenty-six patients in the new and eight in the old hospitals. Seven physicians have been prosecuted for nor properly reporting cases.”
[10] Bloomington Daily Leader, IL. “Promiscuous Items.” 1-11-1872, p. 4.
[11] “There are no cases of the small-pox in this city [Leavenworth]…But as that fearful disease prevails in Kansas City and Topeka, Leavenworth is liable to have cases of it.”
[12] Kansas Historical Society. Samuel Reader’s Diary, Vol. 8. Thumbnail notes: “Volume eight of Samuel James Reader’s diary during which time the community of Silver Lake, near Topeka, Kansas, was suffering from an outbreak of smallpox. About a dozen people died in Silver Lake from the disease…”
[13] Find a Grave. “John Paul Moats.” Added by Nate Bramlett, 9-29-2014. Accessed 11-30-2019.
[14] “Small-Pox – We are informed that Mr. Samuel Slayter, lost a son – and Mrs. Mary Slaytor (Widow) also lost a son, last week from small pox {South Cedar area}. The Holton News, January 1, 1873.” (In Dan Fenton (compiler). Selected Death Notices from Jackson County, Kansas, Newspapers, Volume I, 1872-1885. 1995, p. 2.)
[15] Collins and Collins. Collins’ Historical Sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky (Vol. I). 1882, p. 237.
[16] Lebanon Daily News, PA. “Here and There.” 11-20-1872, p. 2.
[17] New York Times. “A Young Man Cares for His Betrothed While Ill with the Small-Pox and Both Die of the Disease.” 11-29-1872, p. 1. [From the Louisville Courier-Journal, Nov. 27.]
[18] “Bangor, Me., Dec. 13. – Several cases of small-pox have made their appearance in this city, causing considerable uneasiness. The city schools were closed to-night, as a matter of precaution, thus anticipating the usual Christmas holidays by one week.”
[19] Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY. “News Summary.” 12-17-1872, p. 1.
[20] A stand-in estimate based on report of “several” deaths.
[21] The Herald and Torch Light, Hagerstown, MD. “A Waif.” 7-31-1872, p. 2.
[22] “Boston, Nov. 2. – The small-pox in the city is diminishing. Only sixteen deaths are reported this week.”
[23] “Boston, Nov. 30…Of 176 deaths in Boston during the present week, fifty-three were from small=pox.”
[24] Our “stand-in” number based on statement: “In 1872, a smallpox epidemic struck Kansas City. Where does one contain a massive population infected with smallpox? A pest house, of course. A pest house was established on an island in the Missouri River opposite the East Bottoms. With his own funds, Dr. Isaac Ridge built an island to contain the first pest house in Kansas City. The island was the site of St. George’s Contagious Disease Hospital and a burial ground for smallpox victims….Flooding repeatedly lifted the wooden hospital building foundation from its sandbar and sent coffins floating down the river toward the city….”
[25] Medical Society of New Jersey. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 217.
[26] “Small-pox prevailed for a little while, quite extensively in Millville, but by careful hygienic measures, and a system of general vaccination and revaccination, was soon checked. Several deaths occurred. (Medical Society of New Jersey. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 256.) [We translate “several” deaths into “3” in order to count.]
[27] “Hudson County. To the usual epidemics of Measles, Scarlet Fever, mostly of the mild type, and Whooping Cough, was added the extension of Small Pox, for its habitat of the last year. Few parts of the county have been exempt. Jersey City has chiefly suffered, the records of its Small Pox Hospital showing a large number of cases with a pretty heavy mortality. The average in Hoboken is quite unfavorable; the large percentage of mortality is due to the fact that the worst cases both in degree and surroundings, became hospital cases.” (Medical Society of New Jersey. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 219.)
[28] New York Times. “Small-Pox in Jersey City.” 8-14-1872, p. 5.
[29] Medical Society of New Jersey. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 281.
[30] “Small Pox invaded the city of Trenton in the month of July and became an alarming epidemic. It first appeared in the central and most thickly populated portion of the city, and among the better class of citizens. Its origin is unknown. The disease was of a severe type, and the average of deaths large, being about one to six.” (Medical Society of New Jersey. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 220.)
[31] “Small Pox occurs in a limited degree, but a decided tendency to the disease is manifest.” (Medical Society of NJ. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 221.)
[32] Bloomington Daily Leader, IL. “Small-Pox Becoming Epidemic.” 1-5-1872, p. 3.
[33] Medical Society of New Jersey. Transactions of…[for] 1872. 1872, p. 223.
[34] Not included in tally in that the location may have been Camden and included in that figure.
[35] “Both the spotted fever and small-pox continue to rage in Brooklyn….The Mayor visited the small-pox hospital at Flatbush on Tuesday afternoon, and found eighty patients there, four dead bodies in the dead-house, half a dozen dying patients, and about a dozen convalescents. The hospital is crowded, and further accommodations are imperatively required.” (New York Times. “The Small-Pox and Spotted Fever in Brooklyn.” 4-4-1872, p. 8.) We list Brooklyn separately from NYC in that Brooklyn was in independent city until incorporation into NYC in 1898. We do not know if the sources noting 1,666 smallpox deaths in NYC in 1872 included Brooklyn deaths.
[36] Notes that after a woman arrived from Brooklyn whose husband died from smallpox, she “broke out with it, and it has rapidly spread.” Also notes “The public schools have been ordered closed in this village…”
[37] “Table 1: Years of Unusually Large Numbers of Deaths from Selected Epidemic Diseases, 1798 to 1918.” We do not use this number in our tally in that it is larger than the number reported by the NYC Department of Health in 2009 Summary of Vital Statistics. It is possible, though, that the larger number includes Brooklyn and the smaller does not.
[38] Chart on cover page entitled “The Conquest of Pestilence in New York City…As Shown by the Death Rate as Recorded in the Official Records of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.” Given the congruence of the other sources on 1,666 fatalities, we assume the 1,866 number is a typographical error.
[39] “Dr. Moreau Morris, City Sanitary Inspector, reports twenty-six cases of small-pox since Saturday [11th]m and eight deaths from that disease for the forty-eight hours ending at noon yesterday [13th].”
[40] From Table: “Mortality from small-pox in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1872-1881.”
[41] Table entitled “Deaths from Smallpox from 1807 to 1907, inclusive, and Rate per 1,000 of Population.” Notes the smallpox death rate was 3.83 per 1,000 population, compared to death rate of 2.78 in 1871.
[42] Table entitled: “Number of cases and deaths from diphtheria, scarlet fever, and smallpox in Philadelphia, Pa., from 1868- to 1894, inclusive.”
[43] “From the Pottsville (Penn.) Miners’ Journal, Aug. 27. ‘From Yorkville comes one of the saddest stories of the small-pox we have yet been called upon to record. About two weeks since this dreadful disease got into a family named Koch, consisting of father, mother and five children. On last Wednesday the first child died, on Thursday, a second, on Friday a third, and on Saturday a fourth. The mother and fifth child are now confined to their beds with the disease, with the chances against them. The father has thus far escaped. Not one of the family was vaccinated, and the father is said to be opposed to the operation.’”
[44] On Neosho River, southwest section of Allen County, southeast Kansas.