Reports by the Lawrence County Board of Health

Reports by the Lawrence County Board of Health for 1901, 1903, 1905 and 1907.

Lawrence County Board of Health:
Dr. M. G. Watson, Dr. J. D. Biggs, A. J. Garred.
Louisa, Ky., July 18, 1901.
To the State Board of Health:
Gentlemen: Within the last four years we have had 2 outbreaks of smallpox in this county, in the following districts or precincts:
Bear Creek and East Fork precincts, with a total of 97 cases and 2 deaths. No hospital or pest house was provided, and the following was our method of management: Quarantined each family when it first appeared, and we were notified of it. Placed guards over them, but found this method very unsatisfactory, and issued orders compelling vaccination in Bear Creek and East Fork precincts and town of Louisa, and by this method it was stamped out in 43 days after the origin of the last outbreak.
The disease was brought to this county from Boyd county, Ky.;
it was not recognized until after many had been exposed. I estimate that 600 vaccinations have been done in the county since the first cases occurred; that 500 or 600 had been previously vaccinated, out of a total population of about 17,000, leaving 15,800 now unprotected.
The total cost of management to the county, including hospital, physicians, vaccinations, guards, nurses, food, etc., for all the cases which have occurred in the time named has been $1,800. The estimated cost to the county in loss of trade and interference of business has been $12,000.
Our chief difficulties in stamping out the disease were: Physicians and laity refusing to recognize it as smallpox and to be vaccinated, and getting the county authorities to co-operate with the Board of Health.
Very respectfully,
J. D. BIGGS, M. D., Secretary.
[Annual Report by Kentucky State Board of Health, 1901, p. 61]

Lawrence County Board of Health: A. W. Bromley, M. D., Louisa, J. D. Biggs, M. D., Louisa, W. M. Sullivan, Esq., Louisa.
LOUISA, KY., August 14, 1903.
To the State Board of Health:
GENTLEMEN:- — Supplementing our report of July 18, 1901, for the preceding four years, during the two years last past, we have had twelve outbreaks of smallpox in the county, with a total of forty-one cases and no deaths.
We have no eruptive hospital, and our method of management was as follows: Isolation; quarantine; vaccination consistently and persistently applied.
The disease was brought to this county in all outbreaks from Boyd county, and was recognized after a few persons had been exposed. In July, 1901, 1,200 persons of our population were protected by vaccination; since that time I estimate that 1,800 persons have been vaccinated, making a total of 4,000 persons now protected by vaccination, out of a total population of 17,000, leaving 75 per cent now unvaccinated.
The total cost of managing the smallpox in the county including hospital, physicians, vaccination, guards, nurses, food, etc., for all the cases which have occurred since my report in 1901 has been $800. The estimated cost to the county in loss of trade and interference with business has been $5,000.
The chief difficulties in stamping out the disease have been the lack of co-operation of the county officials and the people in refusing to be vaccinated.
The health officer in this county receives an annual salary of $100.
Very respectfully, A. W.
BROMLEY, M. D., Secretary.
[Biennial report of the State Board of Health of Kentucky. 1902/03; Published by State Board of Health, 1904; p. 109]

Lawrence County Board of Health.
Louisa. Ky., August 31, 1905.
To the State Board of Health:
Since our last published report two years ago, there have been three outbreaks of smallpox in this county, in Louisa, Webbville and Buchanan, with a total of forty cases and three deaths.
The first case came from Boyd county, Ky., and twenty persons had been exposed to the disease before its character was recognized and reported so that we could take steps to bring it under control.
Of those exposed, ten had been improperly vaccinated; of these, five contracted the disease and none died. Of the thirty exposed who had not been vaccinated all took the disease and three died.
The population of this county is 18,000. At the time of our last report 4,000 had been vaccinated. Since that time it is estimated that 2,000 have procured vaccination, leaving 66% per cent, still unprotected, after nearly eight years of smallpox almost constantly in some section of the State.
We have no eruptive hospital. Our method of managing the disease was vaccination, isolation and strict quarantine.
The total cost of managing the disease for the two years, including hospital, physicians, vaccination, guards, nurses, food and medicine, has been $2,500. The estimated cost in loss of trade and interference with business has been $5,000.
The chief difficulties in stamping out the disease have been making the people believe it was smallpox and keeping them in.
The county health officer is paid a salary of $100 per year, and all of the other members serve gratuitously.
Very respectfully,
A. W. BROMLEY, M. D.,
Secretary.
[Biennial report of the State Board of Health of Kentucky. 1904/05; Published by State Board of Health, 1906; pp. 103/104]

Lawrence County Board of Health.
Louisa, Ky., Dec. 30, 1907.
To the State Board of Health:
Gentlemen: — Since our last published report two years ago there has been no outbreaks of smallpox in this county. We have no eruptive hospital.
The population of this county is 18,000; about 75% have been vaccinated. As nearly as can be ascertained, other cases of preventable diseases have occurred during the two years as follows:
Consumption. — 30 cases, 30 deaths.
Typhoid Fever.— 100 cases, 15 deaths.
Diphtheria. — 10 cases, 2 deaths.
The health of the county has been unusually good so the various members of the profession report. The county health officer is paid $100.
Very respectfully,
A. W. BROMLEY, M. D, Secretary.
[Biennial report of the State Board of Health of Kentucky. 1906/07; Published by State Board of Health, 1908; pp. 102/103]