20th Century – Page 347 – Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of-Life Events (2024)

–427 Blachard tally from the State breakouts below.

–415 Trask. “Smallpox in…United States.” Public Health Reports, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 943.

–403 US PHS. “Smallpox in…United States.” Public Health Reports, V27, 9-20-1912, p. 1557.

Alabama ( ?) 616 reported cases. Trask. “Smallpox…” PHR, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 950.

Arkansas ( ?) 106 cases reported in Argenta, Little Rock, Lonoke, and Fort Smith.[1]

California ( 1) “Table No. 2.” US PHS. Public Health Rpts., V27, Part II, 9-20-1912, 1561.

Colorado ( 7) “Table No. 2.” US PHS. Public Health Rpts., V27, Part II, 9-20-1912, 1561.

Connecticut ( 0) Trask. “Smallpox…[US].” Public Health Rpts., V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 943.

DC ( 0) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1910, Table 6, p. 333.

Florida ( 12) “Table No. 2.” US PHS. Public Health Rpts., V27, Part II, 9-20-1912, 1561.

Georgia ( ?) 389 cases reported in the city of Macon.[2]

Illinois ( ?) 730 reported cases. Trask. “Smallpox…” PHR, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 950.

Indiana ( 1) “Table No. 2.” US PHS. Public Health Rpts., V27, Part II, 9-20-1912, 1561.

Iowa ( 1) “Table No. 2.” US PHS. Public Health Rpts., V27, Part II, 9-20-1912, 1561.

Kansas ( 12) “Table No. 2.” US PHS. Public Health Rpts., V27, Part II, 9-20-1912, 1561.

–3 Reno County, July. Trask. “Smallpox…” PHR, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 949.

Louisiana ( 5) From 860 reported cases. Trask. “Smallpox…” PHR, 26/25, 6-23-1911, 950

Maine ( 0) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1910, Table 6, p. 333.

Maryland ( 0) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1910, Table 6, p. 333.

Massachusetts( 0) Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1910, Table 6, p. 333.

Michigan (121) “Table No. 2.” US PHS. Public Health Rpts., V27, Part II, 9-20-1912, 1561.

–30 Bay City. Trask. “Smallpox in…” Public Health Rpts., V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 946.

— 1 Bay County. Trask. “Smallpox in…[US]” PHR, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, p. 947.

–19 Lapeer, Oct-Dec. Trask. “Smallpox in…[US]” PHR, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, p. 947.

–47 Saginaw, Oct-Nov 21.[3] Trask. “Smallpox…” PHR, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 946-47

— 7 Saginaw Co., Nov-Dec. Trask. “Smallpox…[US]” PHR, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, 947.

Trask: “Smallpox continued to be prevalent in the United States during the calendar year 1910, a greater number of cases being reported than during the preceding year.[9] There was also a greater number of reported deaths. The reports for the year 1909 received by the Surgeon General of the Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service totaled 24,099 cases with 150 deaths, whereas for the year 1910 the numbers were 30,352 cases and 415 deaths. The cases for the year 1910 were reported from 36 States and the District of Columbia. Complete information of the number of cases reported for the entire year was furnished directly by the State health authorities or was otherwise available for 26 States and the District of Columbia. In other States the health authorities reported the prevalence of the disease for but part of the year, and in others reports were received only from certain cities.

Prevalence.

“The general prevalence and geographic distribution of the disease are shown by the tables and mps on succeeding pages. Connecticut was the only State furnishing complete information in which no case was reported. The greatest numbers of cases were reported in North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Kansas, with 4,281, 2,925, 2,585, 2,342, and 2,202 cases respectively. Tennessee reported 2,199 cases for a part of the year only.

“The increase of the disease in Florida is notable. In this State only 3 cases were reported in 1909, while in 1910, 1,286 were recorded. There was also an increase in Colorado from 345 cases in 1909 to 1,096 in 1910, in the District of Columbia from 24 cases in 1909 to 96 in 1910, in Michigan from 1,175 in 1909 to 2,585 in 1910, in North Carolina from 1,733 to 4,281 cases, in Oklahoma from 1,434 to 2,342, in Pennsylvania from 25 to 168, and in the State of Washington from 310 to 583 cases.

“A decrease is noted in Illinois from 2,135 cases in 1909 to 730 cases in 1910, in Indiana from 1,363 cases in 1909 to 764 cases in 1910, in Minnesota from 1,430 to 1,002, in New York from 762 to 353, in Ohio from 1,328 to 759, in Utah from 1,854 to 966, and in Wisconsin from 1,208 to 443 cases.

“There was practically no change in the prevalence of the disease during the years 1909 and 1910 in the following States: Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, and Oregon. Comparatively but few cases of smallpox were reported in New Hampshire and New Jersey, and, as previously stated, there was none in Connecticut.

“Although no reports are available for the State of Georgia as a whole, 389 cases were reported in the city of Macon.

“There is no evidence at hand to indicate that the disease was less prevalent in the States from which reports for the year were not available than it was in those from which reports were received. In fact it would naturally be expected that an infectious disease such as smallpox would spread more rapidly and cause more cases in those Sates in which it was not promptly reported and in which therefore the number and location of cases were not known to the local and State authorities, who, for this reason, would be placed at a disadvantage in their attempts to control the disease. [pp. 943-944]

Case Rate.

“The distribution of the cases per unit of population gives a better idea of the relative prevalence of the disease. Utah had the highest case rate, the 966 cases reported being at the rate of 257.32 for each 100,000 inhabitants. In 1909 Utah also had the highest case rate with 507 cases for each 100,000 inhabitants. The next highest rates for 1910 were in North Carolina, Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, and Colorado with rates of 193.45, 169.6, 167.32, 139.75 and 136.23 respectively for each 100,000 inhabitants. The lowest rate was in Connecticut with no case. The next lowest rates were in Maryland, New Jersey, Maine, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, with rates of 0.46, 0.86, 1.07, 2.18 and 2.32, respectively. [p. 944]

Fatality.

“One of the most notable features of the smallpox which has been more or less prevalent in the United States for at least ten years is its extreme mildness and the small number of deaths which it has caused. In 1909 the combined States from which complete reports were received had 19,534 cases with 92 deaths which was a mortality rate of 0.471 for each 100 cases. In 1910 the rate was considerably higher bu still remarkably low when compared with the rates reported from other countries.

“Reports as to the prevalence of smallpox during the calendar year 1910 and the number of deaths due to this disease are available for the following States: Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

“These States with a combined estimated mid-year population of 54,435,700 reported 23,552 cases with 385 deaths, an average of 43.27 cases for each 100,000 inhabitants and 1.63 deaths in each 100 cases. In outbreaks of smallpox reported abroad the deaths usually number from 20 to 40 for each hundred cases. To explain the small number of deaths in the United States, we may presume that either the people are partially immune to the disease or else that the existing infection is extremely mild and nonvirulent. Immunity might be the result of general vaccination or a racial characteristic otherwise acquired….

“It would seem that the possible explanation of the mild type of the disease in this country is that it is due to a less virulent strain of infection. This, then, raises the question as to the source of the more severe outbreaks which occur – that is, whether each outbreak is an instance of infection brought in from abroad or carried from some other virulent focus within the country, or whether the mild strain of the disease under certain conditions becomes virulent. This it is believed can probably be solved only by the careful recording of the salient facts in each case. [p. 944-946]

Virulent Outbreaks.

“During the year there were recorded 11 localities in which smallpox showed a high death rate. In most of the instances these were apparently distinct and separate outbreaks, clearly differentiated from the cases of the milder type of the disease which had prevailed in the same localities previous to the onset of the more severe type, and which in some occurred afterwards as well.

Michigan.

“Michigan had been having for several years quite a number of cases of smallpox. These were widely distributed throughout the State and were of the prevailing mild type. In 1909 there had been 1,175 reported cases with only 4 deaths. During 1910, however, three outbreaks occurred in which the mortality rate was high, and in all there were 121 deaths. These outbreaks occurred in Bay City, Saginaw, and Lapeer, located in Bay, Saginaw, and Lapeer Counties, respectively.

Bay City.

“For several months mild cases of smallpox, all of which recovered, had been occurring in Bay City and vicinity, and the last death from this disease in Michigan had been in December, 1909, when suddenly in March, 1910, 61 cases with 8 deaths were reported in Bay City. Most of these were confluent and many were hemorrhagic. In April there were 29 cases with 13 deaths, in May 13 cases and 7 deaths, in June 5 cases and 1 death, and in July 2 cases and 1 death. During the remaining months of the year there were a few case, bu all recovered. The disease was not limited to any special group of people. In the virulent outbreak within the city, if all the cases occurring from March to October, inclusive, are counted, thee was a total of 114 cases with 30 deaths, which gives a case mortality of 26.31 per hundred.

Saginaw.

“The outbreak in Saginaw resembled the preceding in that for months there had been present cases of the disease but no deaths. The cases suddenly jumped from 3 cases with no deaths in September to 81 cases with 19 deaths in October and 82 cases with 29 deaths in November. During December no cases were reported. The president of the board of health of Saginaw states, in reference to the outbreak, that between October 16 and 19, 1910, there developed in Saginaw 42 cases of smallpox, most of which were of the confluent type, and that nearly all of them were taken to the detention hospital. Cases developing later were taken care of in their homes, guards being placed in charge. General vaccination was then enforced and continued until over 40,000 persons had been vaccinated (Saginaw had a population of 50,510, census of 1910). All public places of entertainment were closed, and for three weeks the city was under quarantine, which terminated November 26, since which date no case of smallpox has occurred. [p. 946]

“During the outbreak there were 156 cases with 47 deaths, a mortality of 30.13 per hundred cases. Of the 156 cases, with 47 deaths, a mortality of 30.13 per hundred cases. Of the 156 cases, 45 were under 10 years of age, 35 between 10 and 20 years, 31 between 20 and 30 years, 15 between 30 and 40 years, 20 between 40 and 50 years, and 10 were over 50 years of age; 87 were males and 69 females. Of the 47 deaths, 24 occurred at the hospital and 23 at the patients’ homes.

Lapeer.

“In Lapeer and vicinity there had also been cases of nonvirulent smallpox for some time. Then during August and September no cases were reported in the city or county. In October there were 2 cases with 1 death and in November 31 cases with 16 deaths, of which 30 cases and 15 deaths were in the home for the feeble-minded. In December there were 5 cases and 2 deaths, of which 1 case and 1 death were in the home referred to. No cases were reported during the next two months. During October, November, and December the cases reported numbered 38 and the deaths 19, a death rate of 50 per hundred cases. [p. 947]

Cleveland, Ohio.

“There was in Cleveland from April 30 to July 26, 1910, a total of 62 cases of smallpox with 10 deaths and 2 cases of permanent disability. There was no instance of the disease in those recently vaccinated. One patient of about 45 years of age gave an indefinite history of vaccination in childhood; there was, however, no scar. Another patient had been vaccinated between 17 and 20 years before, according to his recollection. Two medical students vaccinated on the day of exposure had very mild attacks. All the other cases were among unvaccinated children. Nine of the deaths were in children under 10 years of age. The deaths in this outbreak were at the rate of 16.13 per hundred cases.[10] [pp. 947-948]

Bee County, Tex.

“On January 1, 1910, the health officer of Bee County was called to see a patient who had smallpox. There were 9 other people living in the house, all of whom refused to be vaccinated, saying that they preferred smallpox to vaccination. A man and 2 women from another house who had visited the patient before the nature of the disease was known submitted to vaccination. The vaccination was successful, however, only in 1 of the women. Thus of the 12 who had been exposed to the disease there was but 1 who had ever been successfully vaccinated; that is the woman above referred to. This woman did not contract the disease; the other 11 did. The original case and the 11 secondary ones made 12 in all, and of these 5 died. A death rate of 41.66 per hundred cases. [p. 948] ….

Grady County, Okla.

“In Grady County the deaths due to smallpox were comparatively numerous throughout the year compared with the number of cases reported. From March to December, inclusive, there were 50 cases with 20 deaths, a fatality rate of 40 per hundred cases….

Oklahoma County, Okla.

“There was a sudden virulent manifestation of the disease in this county during March and April. Cases occurring during succeeding months seem to have been mild in form with the exception of 1 death in July. From March to July, inclusive, there were 37 cases with 20 deaths, a fatality rate of 54.05 per hundred cases….” [p. 949]

US PHS: “During the year 1910 there were notified in these same States [29 reporting States plus DC] 25,598 cases with 403 deaths…” (p. 1557)

From the 1911 report, the following is probably just as relevant for the year 1910:

“From such information as was obtainable the disease during 1911 appears to have been equally prevalent, if not more so, in the States from which no reports were received. The fact that certain States did not report on the prevalence of the disease was not due to an absence of cases of smallpox within their territory, but to an absence of laws requiring the notification of cases, or in the presence of such laws, to a failure to enforce them.[11]

“It must not…be understood that the States enumerated in the tables…had more smallpox than the States that do not appear. In fact, many of the States that are not mentioned because of a lack of the necessary reports are known to have been heavily infected with the disease. The States included in the tables are those having the better laws and more effective health departments They are the States having health departments that keep informed with some degree of accuracy regarding the prevalence of disease within their respective jurisdictions.” (US PHS. “Smallpox in the United States.” Public Health Reports, Vol. 27, No. 38, 9-20-1912, p. 1556.)

Michigan

Johns: “In 1910, a smallpox epidemic broke out at the asylum,[12] and a company of the Flint National Guard camped out on the grounds that fall and winter to keep the disease contained to the asylum grounds. Many victims of the smallpox epidemic were buried in the now-forlorn cemetery at the southern edge of the grounds.

Nov 22: “Special to The News-Palladium: Saginaw, Nov. 22 – Seth Hanks, 16, young high school football star, who refused to be vaccinated because he wanted to play another game, and thought a vaccinated arm would impair his strength, died of smallpox in the detention hospital Monday [Nov 21], bringing the city list to 47.

“There were two deaths Saturday night, and one new case of a very mild form reported, It is expected that this week schools will be reopened and, if conditions remain as they have been for the past four days, it is possible that people will be allowed to go to church.

“Lapeer, Nov. 22. Smallpox conditions were not quite so good yesterday at the Michigan home,[13] there having been four new cases, but all from the same building, one of the first infected. Superintendent Chamberlain states that it is no more than was looked for, and that he thinks it will be less severe in these patients, as they have been successfully vaccinated. He also says he looks for a few more cases from this same building.” (News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “Victims Still Die.” 11-22-1910, p. 7.)

Minnesota

Dec 28 report: “Wadena. There is a very serious pox epidemic at Eagle Bend [Todd County, MN], a small village twenty miles south of this city. There are 12 cases there, and one case has resulted fatally.” (The Standard, Albert Lea, MN. “Smallpox at Eagle Bend.” 12-28-1910, p. 6.

Sources

Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce. Mortality Statistics 1910. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1913. Accessed 1-17-2024 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsushistorical/mortstatsh_1910.pdf

Goshen Democrat, Goshen, IN. “Saturday’s News Nuggets.” 12-6-1910, p. 3. Accessed 1-30-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/ThumbImage.ashx?i=196634203

Johns, Krystal. “State home lives on in memories.” The County Press, Lapeer, MI. 8-1-2012. Accessed 1-30-2015 at: http://thecountypress.mihomepaper.com/news/2012-08-01/Front_%28and%29_Center/State_home_lives_on_in_memories.html

News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “Victims Still Die.” 11-22-1910, p. 7. Accessed 1-30-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/ThumbImage.ashx?i=74247901

The Standard, Albert Lea, MN. “Smallpox at Eagle Bend.” 12-28-1910, p. 6. Accessed 1-30-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/ThumbImage.ashx?i=250970785

Trask, John W. (Assistant Surgeon General). “Smallpox in the United States – Prevalence and Geographic Distribution During the Calendar Year 1910.”[14] Public Health Reports, V26, N25, 6-23-1911, pp. 943-953. Accessed 1-30-2015 at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4566391?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

United States Public Health Service. “Table No. 2. — Showing the number of cases of and deaths due to smallpox reported in certain States during the calendar years 1909, 1910, and 1911.” Public Health Reports, Vol. 27, Part II, No. 38, Sep 20, 1912, p. 1561. [Also on same page: “Table No. 3. – Showing the smallpox case rate per 1,000 inhabitants and fatality rate per 100 cases in certain States during the calendar years 1909, 1910, and 1911.”] Accessed 1-28-2015 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=eUsyAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] Trask. “Smallpox in the United States.” Public Health Review, Vol. 26, No. 25, 6-23-1911, p. 950.

[2] Trask. “Smallpox in the United States.” Public Health Review, Vol. 26, No. 25, 6-23-1911, p. 950.

[3] News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “Victims Still Die.” 11-22-1910, p. 7.

[4] The Standard, Albert Lea, MN. “Smallpox at Eagle Bend.” 12-28-1910, p. 6.

[5] Trask. “Smallpox in the United States.” Public Health Review, Vol. 26, No. 25, 6-23-1911, p. 947.

[6] Trask. “Smallpox in the United States.” Public Health Review, Vol. 26, No. 25, 6-23-1911, p. 948.

[7] Trask. “Smallpox in the United States.” Public Health Review, Vol. 26, No. 25, 6-23-1911, p. 950.

[8] Trask. “Smallpox in the United States.” Public Health Review, Vol. 26, No. 25, 6-23-1911, p. 948.

[9] For account of prevalence of smallpox during 1910 see Public Health Reports, V25, N22, June 2, 1911, p. 799.

[10] Cites: C. E. Ford, Cleveland Superintendent of Health, Public Health Reports, Vol. 25, No. 34, 8-26-1910, 1179.

[11] States not reporting were: AL, AZ, AR, DE, GA, KY, LA, MO, NE, NV, NH, NM, RI, SC, WV, and WY.

[12] Michigan Home for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic at Lapeer, MI.

[13] Michigan Home for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic. (Krystal Johns. “State home lives on in memories.” The County Press, Lapeer, MI. 8-1-2012.)

[14] “From information furnished by State and local health authorities and registrars.”

20th Century – Page 347 – Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of-Life Events (2024)

References