Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa Thursday, October l2, l90l The State Board of Health is preparing to fortify itself the coming winter in the matter of contagious diseases and it is expected that a greater effort than ever before will be made to secure reliable information in regard to smallpox, diphtheria and scarlet fever, to the end that all prevent a spread of these diseases. The fact that numbers of new cases have been reported recently in the southern part of the State indicates that the contagious disease season may open early. Smallpox is prevalent in several cities of the State. The reports indicate that School Boards are more vigilant than ever in excluding pupils who have not been vaccinated. The recent letter of State Superintendent Barrett to the President of the School Board in Sioux City, making it plain that School Boards in Iowa have the power to enforce compliance with all reasonable regulations of the local Boards of Health and that vaccination is regarded as a reasonable regulation, has done much to encourage action looking to prevention of contagion. Secretary Kennedy of the State Board of Health, reports that during l899 and l900, diphtheria appeared in 336 towns, townships and cities of the State; scarlet fever in 500 places and smallpox in 390. The deaths reported in the two years were: Diphtheria, 3l5; scarlet fever, ll2; smallpox, 24. But the Secretary intimates that there were at least twice as many cases and deaths in the State as were reported. Some of the places where contagion was greatest were not recorded at all. Only seven counties report that they had no smallpox during the two years. The number of deaths from smallpox is small considering the number of cases reported, a total of 4,792. Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

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