/^/? ^v /y //<^ t-c::--^^ ^.cc *^««-^ ^>0(yt^^tAJL Dr. Laberhe. ^ 7^ A BRIEF HISTORY OF THB SMALL POX EPIDEHflC IN MONTREAL FROM 1 87 1 TO 1880 AND THE LATE OUTBREAK OF 1885 BT Mrs. M GUYOT. t i A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRB SMALL POX EPIDE^flC IN MONTREAL FROM 1871 TO 1880 AND THE LATE OUTBREAK OF 1885 MY Mrs. M. GUYOT, AI'THOR OF '• THE HUNrSHMENT OF THE ACADIANS," ETC, CONTAINING t A CONCISE ACCOUXr OF THE INOCULATION OF ANCIENT TIME, THK IiISCOVERY ANn ADVANTAGE OF VACCINATION ; MORTALITY FROM 8MALL POX FROM 1871 TO 1880, TOGETHER WITH A SUMMARY OF THE RE<;ORD OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS, WITH STATISTICS OF MORTALITY OF THE LATE OUTBREAK IN 1885. I I ^^ II » g ■«• c^ • • • • fO irt - C-* o C4 c^ tn ^ 00 c< s •4B»A ? 01 sqinom 9 § ^ -sq^aom 9 Japan 4O CO £ 1 i J 1 fe 1 £ ^ 2 &H Ol SO IK )qi8: ) 13 The mortality was becoming too alarming for the people to remain disinterested, and they begun to take action in several important matters. The ques- tion of obtaining lymph now began to agitate the Board of Health ; that is regarding points that could be guaranteed by responsible authority so that no evil results would arise to strengthen the now great prejudice entertained by the majority of the people ; but they decided to accept that furnished by the New England Vaccine Co., of Chelsea, Mass. The 14th showed a great increase ©f the disease and complaints were constantly brought to Dr. Laberge, the City Health officer, of placards being torn down and cases not reported, while he lamented his want of power. The Health committee in their special meeting discussed the question of vaccination, and the spread of the disease ; free vaccination was proposed, and free disenfectants. Philanthropists were appealed to the necessity of organizing a committee, to relieve the wants of fa^iilies who were prevented from atten- ding their work through having smallpox among their members. Aid. Roy's proposition, that four medical vaccinators be appointed for three months at a salary of $25 per month to attend to vaccination three hours per day under the supervision of the board of Health, was accepted; their names and dis- tricts to be as follows ; Dr. G. E. Roy, eastern portion of the city from limits to Papineau road ; Dr. E. La- porte, that section between Papineau road and St. Lawrent street; Dr. Rv'^ed, St. Lawrence ward; and Dr. Kannon St. Ann's ward. On the i8th vaccine points m 14 began to be widely distributed, fifty medical men having applied for them at the Health office. The boot and shoe factories employ a larger num- ber of help than any other industry in Montreal The majority of the employees are French Cana- dians, which race are the most subject to smallpox and I may had the most indifferent to its dangers. — It is this very contempt for smallpox which makes the disease so fatal in Montreal, — These were im- mediately notified to get vaccinated, and those who could not produce a doctor's certificate of vaccina- tion within two days, er of course a certificate that they were not fit subjects for vaccination, were dis- missed from their employment. The measure was an extreme one, but so also was the danger. This act was followed by all the other manufacture with the most gratifying results. It is a question if a man has a right to imperil his own life by his own igno- rant prejudices, but certainly he has no right to im- perii the lives of other people. About the 20th, the number of persons applying at the Health office be- gan to increase every day, and doctors continue de- mand of Dr. Labeige the procuring of more vaccine. The 2 1st the City Passengers Railway Ca, under- took to prevent their servants introducing conta- gion Into their cars ; this is practically an impossilN- lity, no matter what amount of watchfulness is exer- cised ; people walked out of infected houses straight into the cars ; sanitary policemen who had been dis- en&cting rode on them ; probably there were hun- dreds every day who had been in infected houses « 15 used these vehicles ; the cushions and trimmings of which being excellent mediums for conveying the disease from one person to another, the health de- partment therefore were justified in seeing that the cars were fumigated daily. The managers of this Railway issued orders that the sanitary police was not to be permitted to ride on these cars. On the 22nd the wholesale clothing trade being fully alive to the prevalence of the disease ; in addition to having all those employed on their premises vaccinated, they at once engaged a doctor to devote the whole of his time in visiting the operatives in their houses. On the same date the mayor received replies to his two hundred post cards asking the permission of subscribers to the volunteers, to apply their subscrip- tions to the relief of persons distressed by smallpox. Not one refused, and many asked his Worship to apply to them for additional subscriptions, if neces- sary. About this date, people began to overdo the re- porting business,and were sending the medical Health Officers on all sorts of useless and foolish errands. It was during this month that the distinguished statesman and scholar Sir Francis Hincks fell a victim to this scurge and several misapprehensions respecting his illness and death were made public ; two statements in particular were erroneous ; one was that only a domestic was in attendance during his illness and death ; the other that no religious servi- ces were held over his grave. Sir Francis had no one with him but his housekeeper when he was taken ill, but on the Saturday previous to his death, she. i6 without his consent or knowledge, notified his son- in-law Lt. Col. Ready, and his wife immediately came to the city and were with him until the close. It was not know at first what Sir Francis was suff- ering from, it was believed to be a bilious attack, but as he grew worse Dr. McDonnell was summoned, and he in his turn called in Dr. Howard and the disease was pronounced smallpox. An excellent English nurse who had been trained in smallpox Hospitals, was secured, but the disease made rapid progress and Sir Francis succombed. In obedience to the law governing such cases, no funeral service was held. As soon as the body was prepared it was removed to the vault in the cemetery until the grave was pre- pared. Col. Ready and the Rev. Mr. Dixon were at the burial and the latter read the funeral service of the church of England over his remains. The month of August closed with the people hav- ing a full determination to stamp out the pest, but the disease was making terrible headway as the mor- tality^ of September shows. On the 5th of this month the mayor called a meet- ing of the citizens in Nordheimers hall, which was largely attended. In opening the meeting, he said that in view of the fact that all over the continent it was thought the people of Montreal were dying like sheep in the streets, the calling of a meet- ing of citizens had become necessary. As an instance of the way in which the affliction of Montreal was being spoken of, he read a telegram from Mr. Sho- rey, stating that the Manitoba " Free Press " in its *7 00 I I ^ I •UJl^ou^^ ION • • 100 and over s § • o •0 ^ c* s CO o eo " •* o r- > «o ^ o «e X CO s ^> <£ tO fo e^ c* o c< •* eo CO »o 05 CO M CO JBSA I 0) jsqinora 9 r- sqiaoui 9 jepiir) n «o eo 1 g i i 1 "^ ! 5 2 a a> ^ u <-> i> b Ch < E- i > 4 SOI oq 1^ D 1 I8 . last issue advised the merchants of Manitoba to boy- cott Montreal on account of the prevalence there. The same paper placed the number of patients suffer- ing from , smallpox at 2000. With regard to the health department he would say that it was doing its work well and to the full extent of its powers. At the meeting of the Board of Heath, it was de- cided to put the Civic Hospital under the charge of the Grey nuns. A grant of $ioo.cx) per year to be" paid to each nun acting as nurse. Four of the ladies of this institute were chosen for this special purpose and their number was to be increased if necessary. Their adieux to the mother house were most touch- ing, as they were of course to be entirely secluded from all intercourse with the other members of the community as long as they were attached to the hospital. Although fully realizing the dangers they would encounter, the four generous nuns left their cherished home with a cheerful heart after recering the blessing of their mother superioress ; for, say they, our motto is " sacrifice." No better day would have been chosen for the departure of the nuns on this painful mission, the 14 of September, the feast of the order, of the exaltation of the Holy cross, >9 which was adopted by the founder of the institution as meaning total abnegation and self sacrifice for the love of God and suffering mankind. A new wing of the hospital was built, and a portion set apart for protestant patients who where cared for by protestant nurses. There were to be seen some very touching scenes at the Healt Office ; on the morning of the 15 th, there came in a poor but neatly clad woman who meekly asked for her daughter who had been sent to the civic Hospital. Going to the telephone an officer rang up the hospital and learned that the little girl was recovering. When the poor woman heard this, her self control gave way all at once and she cried. Composing herself somewhat, she explained that the little girl was her only child. Then she produced a small parcel containing a few blue plums, an apple, several tomatoes and a course lamp of maple sugar. These things she wished to have sent to her daughter. She was told that then was nolackofdelicaciesatthe hospital, but she insisted on having her present sent ; she was afraid her daughter might think she had forgotten her if she did not send her something. Dr. Laberge had frequently trouble in obtaining care for little children temporarily orphaned by the di- sease. A Mr. who lived on St Lawrence street, was taken to the St. Rock's hospital, a few days later his wife also was taken there. She left behind her an infant five weeks old who, having been vaccinated, did not contract the disease from the parent^. There was no one to take charge of < 20 the child, Dr. Laberge applied for admittance for it at the protestants infants Home, but was informed that the house was too crowded to accommodate another child. He then applied to the relief com- mittee composed of protestant clergy and the Rev. Mr. Nichols had it cared for. It is a sad but unde- niable fact that a large number of the French popu- lation, encouraged by causes we will not mention, were hostile to vaccination ; therefor on the 23rd, vaccination was made compulsory ; this had to be done in order te have any control over the disease ; every house was visited and summoning every house- keeper to declare whether or not each and every member was vaccinated. To the unvaccinated, the operation was offered free. Refusal to be vaccinated or misrepresentation made the offender guilty under the law and punishable by a heavy penalty, which can be repeated until compliance is secured. When that portion of the city learned that compulsory vac- cination was to be enforced, on Monday the 28th, following the advice of a few hot headed demago- gues, they resolved to make a bobterous demonstra- tion. They therefore organized themselves into a mob which at same points must have numbered several thousands ; for several hours these people had com* plete possession of the streets. The rioters went where they liked, and did what they liked. War- nings were given of the intention ofthe mob to return in force and express in a more decided way, their disapproval of the energetic measures taken by the board of Health authorities. The threat was even 21 made to the secretary of the office, Mr. Berthelot, that by six o'clock there iwould be nothing left of the office. The chief, as in previous cases, did not deem the warning of sufficient importance to take any immediate precautions and no arrangments were made for extra police protection. Two hours later the threats had been carried into execution and the mob alter having wrecked the office, started out on a tour of devastation. The rioters were of such pro- portions as to indicate preconcerted arrangements. The wide street of St. Catherine for a distance of a hundred yards, was black with men and boys. Chief Police Paradis was consequently communicated with, and arriving soon after, telephoned for all men on duty at the East end stations. When these ar- rived, they were not much of an acquisition, and their services were not brought into play until long after they arrived. Sub-Chief Lancey, single handed, cleared the sidewalk in front of the health office and in company of two others cleared the whole street in front of the building. This showed at once the crowd was not a very desperate one. Although the street was cleared, the stones continued to rattle through the glass of the office windows. After half an hour of this desultory stone throwing, a large por- tion of the mob broke off from the remainder to demonstrate in other parts of the city. In the dis- orderly procession, were many respectably dressed young men and these in fact appeared to be the most unruly of the lot. Now and again the uproar would take a new turn by the shouting out 22 of some such expressions as : bravo Riel, vive la FRANCE, or hurrah canadiens franfaisy such cries in- variably changed singing to cheering, and in this exuberant mood the crowd proceeded through the city. Panes of glass were brooken at Dr. F. X. Archambault's house, and arriving in front of the dwelling of Dr. Laberge, the medical Health officer, the rioters shouted for him swearing they would kill him. Getting no response to their cries, the crowd stoned the house doing considerable damage. On St. Denis street, the mob broke several panes of glass and smashed the blinds of Aid. Grenier's resi- dence. When Mr. Baridon, who keeps a drug store on St. Denis street, saw the crowd descending, he, immediately tore down a notice to the effect that he sold vaccine points, extinguished the %hts and clo- sed the doors. Meanwhile the crowd advanced hooting and yelling in front of his store ; they then halted and stoned the place. Two large plate glasses and two valuable showcases were destroyed. The anti-vaccinationists then started for the city Health office arriving at a quarter to eight Here were gathered some ten or dozen constables. These went outside, they attempted to persuade the rioters to move on ; but were soon lost in the growing multi- tude. There was a lull for a time but soon the sounds of crashing glass were heard all over the building. At this time, detective Richardson came in and without losing much time in deliberation drew a revolver and commenced firing over the heads of the crowd through the windows. This 23 produced a cessation in the stone throwing, and also served as a signal of recall for the police dispersed through the crowd. Thinking the roughs were in the station, these returned not however unnoticed for as the door was opened to allow them to enter, a volley of stones made painful bruises on a number of them. When within the door they formed up in line about twelve men all told. The contrast of their numbers with those they were about to attack seemed to strike every one, and a suggestion was made and adopted that they should use their rifles and bayonets. Armed with these, they were about to march out when the detachment which had gone to the East end office returned with Chief Paradis at their head. Ten minutes of organized effort ended the whole trouble as far as the city Hall was concer- ned, the crowd melted away. Detachments of police were sent to gjuard the houses of Aid. Grenier and Dr. Laberge. A call issued by the mayor about mid-day of the 30th, brought close on twelve hun- dred volunteers under arms in three or four hours to preserve the city's peace and to guard the exhibition buildings which had to be used as hospitals. The Canadian militia is a force, which the more is seen the more there is to be proud of. In time of quiet it costs little, gives no anxiety and loses no industry to the country. In time of trouble it does all that regular troops could do and even more. The 24' 00 oo I ■«3 o H UMOUJI low 00 CO o -o o o o o 00 o o CO o o c>< o o 1^ if) CO lO o CO in CO C^ CO o CI M CO CO sqinotu 9 in (N OS C5 CO CO sqiuom 9 jopnn c^ o 00 — B ■5 cd E e3 O B o "o "3 u u B C3 (A a> «-* o h3 H O soi[oqn?3 2S same night, as if invigorated by the spirit of the civic chief, the police did their duty and did it weU« The Royal Scots received orders to remain on duty all night, which was passed very quiet and returned to break- fast at six in the morning. There was no reason to predict further trouble than had occured to relieve the monotony of the vigils kept by the guards during the week of October the 7th, but the strictest vigilance was maintained. Until ten o'clock on the night of this day nothing had occurred beyond the relief of sentries, the visits of rounds men and the lusty chorus appreciated by only those who have slept in a military camp, as the watchful sentries passed the assuring " alls well" round the lines, but a quarter of an hour later the alarm was given and the necessity of maintening guard at the Fair buildings was being demonstrated. 26 Trutnpter Browning, and Carp. Drjsfllale were the cavalry videttes on patrol duty outside the grounds ; and observed a crowd of eighty or a hundred men approaching noisily across the fidds towards Wise- mans comer. Here they formed a juncture with another crowd and the whole, numbering probably some four hundred, proceeded along Mount Royal towards the Exhibition grounds. The troopers advan- ced to the end of their beat, nearest the crowd, and chalenged them, receiving in reply the information that the crowd was on its way to the Cote-des-neiges road. The troopers replied that their orders were to prevent any crowd from passing in front of the Exhi- bition grounds, and added that they could not pass. At this, the crowd with a yell made a rush at the two cavalry men, and stones at the same time were sent whizzing through the air. The patrol was driven back to the gate by sheer weight and both men were wounded by the stones. The sentries at the gates called out the guard at the first appearance of the crowd and as they advanced the detachment off duty fell ii). Strict orders were given to the men on no account to load. The support of the cavalry detachment was • also got under arms and mounted and galloped down to the gate in support of their patrol. The detachment was in charge of Sergt. W. Thompson, and as the men were leaving the gate, Major Atkinson threw in his lot with them and formed the eleven troopers up in line across the road. A charge was then ordered, and the 27 mob dispersed with amazing agility before the earnest soldier. Throughout the night of the 8th, perfect quiet rei- gned on and about the Exhibition grounds. At eight o'clock sixty men of the Prince of Wales Battallion under command of Major Butler, relieved the Garri- son Artillery. On their way home the latter marched by St. Lawrence street through the very heart of St. Jean-Baptiste village and not a sign of hostility on the part of the residents was anywhere noticeable. Objections were hereafter unheard of from the une- ducated portion of the City, they realized that they must submit to a wiser and stronger power. And so the weary days dragged themselves along; another month passes and we find ourselves in the month of November ; congratulations are the order of the day. So much has smallpox relaxed its grasp on the city of Montreal that now less than half the victims slain every day in October are entered on the bills of mortality. But Montreal will never be free from danger while contagion lingers in its suburbs nor can we expect Montreal to revive until they can show a clean bill of health. Among that partion of the city which has accepted the protection of vacci- nation well-nigh perfect immunity from the epidemic has been enjoyed. Here and there still lingers a reluc- tant minority who will not vaccinate, and who there- fore will, if neglected, keep the pestilence smoulde- ring away indiffinitely. The practitioners whose careless operations in the past years have prejudiced people against vaccination have much to answer for. 28 00 00 I I -i; G • i in mm4 c* CO CO 'UMOUX ION 100 and over - § § : 00 o : CO o < - 1 o ^ 00 •n oqjB D We have been laboriously bailing the water out of our boat instead of stopping the leak, with all the loss ever attending cure as against prevention. All the costly and enormously troublesome means of isolation, the hospitals with their ambulances, the 29 guards around infected houses, all these but measure the extent to which safe and certain prevention has been neglected or opposed. Although the disease is checked, there are so many centres of contagion and so many people remaining unvaccinated, that the disease may b^in again with renewed violence. A curious fact about the scourge is its absolute restric- tion to unvaccinated portions of the city. This and the facts that from the first its ravages have been lar- gely confined to young children, must impress my readers in addition to the rcstrictedness of the small- pox area and its easy avoidance. While these facts are encouraging they have not lead to any relaxation of effort Vigilence and energy are being practised n«w as ever. December finds the city under controle, and the mortality greatly diminished, in fact the epidemic stopped. Now that it is over, we can look over the situation with the same glasses that other cities see us through. The large employers of labor in Montreal have struggled manfully with the smallpox difficulty. A few even now talk feebly about the damage which publicity has done to trade, but the majority realize that the only way to minimize the bad effects of that intelligence upon the trade of the city, is by giving equal publicity to the fact that the people of Mon- treal, rich and poor, employers and employees have worked actively to stamp out the disease. Perhaps ' the cost of this epidemic direct and indirect to the business men of Montreal will wake them up to the necessity of sanitary reform in that city, and perhaps 30 •< s 00 n •* § •UMOux • French Canadians Other Catholics... m C a in