Here’s a bit of historical news from the Brattleboro Phoenix, January 3, 1919. Most of the print space around this time was spent on news of the war in Europe, but this tidbit highlights a local issue. It’s a story that suggests the influenza epidemic was winding down a bit in Brattleboro, but also gives some numbers and information for how it had progressed.
“Influenza Epidemic Waning
Thirty-Five Homes Quarantined Since Sunday – 170 Cases Last Week – Few Other Cases of Contagious Disease
Thirty-five homes have been quarantined for influenza since Monday morning by Health Officer Henry Tucker, which is a decided falling off in the daily average for last week.
Three homes were quarantined yesterday, as against five for Wednesday, which was the smallest showing for any one day since the epidemic broke out DEc. 14, and indications are that the crisis in the epidemic has been passed, in the opinion of Dr. Tucker and other physicians.
During the week ending Sunday night Health Officer Tucker placed 106 placards for influenza, covering 170 cases, practically all of which were of a mild type. From Dec. 14 to Dec 31 inclusive, 186 homes were quarantined covering 258 cases.
Other contagious diseases quarantined last week included one case each of whooping cough, chicken pox, and mumps.”
And then there was this encouraging news from the January 10, 1919 edition, just a few weeks later:
“Chautauqua is coming back.
After a laps of two years, because of epidemics and war conditions, Brattleboro is again to have a series of entertainments under the auspices of the Chautauqua Association of Pennsylvania….”
