53 –1,752

lornajarrettblanchard January 1, 1094

Compiled by B. Wayne Blanchard, Dec 2015; modified Dec 2019, for website: Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-Of-Life Events. https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–1,752 Blanchard tally from State and local breakouts below.

Summary of State Breakouts

District of Columbia ( 10)

Illinois (1,033) Chicago (1,033)

Indiana ( 12) Indianapolis (10)

Maryland ( 4) Baltimore

Massachusetts ( 33)

Michigan ( 53) Detroit especially (>23)

New Jersey ( 11)

New York ( 147) New York City and Brooklyn especially

Philadelphia, PA ( 13)

Vermont ( 1)

Wisconsin ( 325) Milwaukee especially (244)

Breakout of 1894 Smallpox Deaths by State and Locality (where noted)

District of Columbia ( 10)

— 1 Wash, DC May 22 Woodward. Report of…Health Officer… p. 1058.

— 9 Wash, DC Oct-Dec Woodward. Appendices. Health Officer Rpt., 1894, p. 1102.

–1 “ Oct 13 Woodward. Report…Health Officer… p. 1069.^[1]

–4 “ Oct 15-Nov 6 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N46, 11-16-1894, 1065

–1 “ Nov 7-21^[2] USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N47, 11-23-1894, 1095

–1 “ Dec 21^[3] Eliot in Annual Rpt. DC Commissioners, 1895, p. 1290.

–1 “ Dec 26^[4] Eliot in Annual Rpt. DC Commissioners, 1895, p. 1290.

Illinois (1,033) Chicago (1,033)

–1,033 Year Report of Dept. of Health of Chicago, 1984, p. xxix.

— 22 Jan 1-24 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V. IX, N5, Feb 2, 1894, 57.

— 7 Jan 25-30 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V. IX, N8, 23 Feb 1894, 110.

— 55 Feb USMHS. Weekly….San. Rpts., V.IX, N14, 6 Apr 1894, 207

— 95 Mar USMHS. Weekly….San. Rpts., V.IX, N14, 6 Apr 1894, 207

–157 Apr USMHS. Weekly….San. Rpts., V.IX, N22, 1 Jun 1894, 366.

–253 May USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N35, 8-31-1894, p703.

–171 June USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N35, 8-31-1894, p703.

— 51 July USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N35, 8-31-1894, p703.

— 53 Aug USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N40, 5 Oct 1894, 869.

Indiana ( 12) Indianapolis (10)

— 3 Delaware County. Year Indiana Med. Jour. “The Small-pox Epidemic…” p. 514.[5]

–10 Indianapolis Up to June 19 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N25, 22 Jun 1894, 423

Maryland ( 4)

–4 Baltimore May Cordell. Medical Annals of Maryland, 1799-1899. 1903, 728.

Massachusetts ( 33)

–33 Statewide Year Sec. of MA. 53^rd Report of…Deaths…1884, p. 32.[6]

Michigan ( 53) Detroit especially (>23)

— 1 Adrian Twnsp. Nov 23 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N52, 12-28-1894,1270

–25 esp. Detroit^[7] Jan 8-June 28 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N31, 8-3-1894, p. 573.

— 5 Detroit Jun 29-Aug 18 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N34, 8-24-1894, p674.

— 1 “ Aug 19-25 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N35, 8-31-1894, p705.

— 1 “ Sep 23-29 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N40, 5 Oct 1894, 871.

— 7 “ Oct 13-Nov 10 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N50, 12-14-1894,1179

— 9 “ Dec 1-29 USMHS. Abstract of Sanitary Reports, X/1, 1-4-1895, p. 2.

— 3 Royal Oak Tw. Nov 1 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N52, 12-28-1894,1271

— 1 Sebewa Twnsp. Nov 14 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N52, 12-28-1894,1271

— 3 St. Johns Oct 28 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N52, 12-28-1894,1271

New Jersey ( 11)

–11 Statewide Year NJ Board of Health. 29^th Annual Report… Table 42, p. 48.

New York (147) New York City and Brooklyn especially

— 37 Statewide May USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N28, 7-13-1894, p498.

–26 NYC and Brooklyn

— 7 Towns in immediate vicinity of New York City

— 3 Albany Penitentiary

— 1 Rochester

— 24 Statewide June USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N32, 8-10-1894, p610.

— 19 Statewide July USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N36, 7 Sep 1894, 733.

— 51 Brooklyn Feb 17-Apr 21 USMHS. Weekly….San. Rpts., V.IX, N18, 5-4-1894, p.263.

— 1 “ Oct 6-Nov 17 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N47, 11-23-1894,1095

— 1 “ Dec 22-29 USMHS. Abstract of Sanitary Reports, X/1, 1-4-1895, p. 2.

— 10 NYC Oct 27-Nov 24 USMHS. Abstract of Sanitary Reports, X/1, 1-4-1895, p.2.

— 4 “ Nov 24-Dec 22 USMHS. Abstract of Sanitary Reports, X/1, 1-4-1895, p.2.

Philadelphia, PA ( 13)

–13 Philadelphia Year City of Philadelphia. 1^st Annual Message… 1907, p. 100.^[8]

Vermont ( 1)

— 1 Washington Dec 14 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N52, 12-28-1894, 1270

Wisconsin (325) Milwaukee especially (244)

— 1 Beaver Dam Nov 19-26 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N48, 11-30-1894, 1125

— 1 Ellsworth Oct 22-Nov 5 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N47, 11-23-1894, 1095

— 2 Franklin Oct 23-Nov 5 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N46, 11-16-1894, 1064

— 1 “ Nov 5-19 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N47, 11-23-1894, 1093

— 4 Greenfield Nov 5-19 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N47, 11-23-1894, 1093

— 1 Liberty Oct 8-22 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N43, 26 Oct 1894, 968

— 74 Milwaukee Jan-Sep 24 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N40, 5 Oct 1894, 867.

— 21 “ Sep 25-Oct 8 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N42, 19 Oct 1894, 935

–122 “ Oct 6-Dec 10 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N49, 12-7-1894, 1149.

— 17 “ Dec 11-17 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N52, 12-28-1894, 1271

— 3 “ Dec 18-24 USMHS. Abstract of Sanitary Reports, X/1, 1-4-1895, p. 2.

— 4 “ Dec 25-30 USMHS. Abstract of Sanitary Reports, X/1, 1-4-1895, p. 6.

— 1 Milwaukee Twp. Oct 8-Nov 5 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N44, 11-2-1894, 1004.

— 2 Muskego Oct 23-Nov 5 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N46, 11-16-1894, 1064

— 1 “ Nov 5-19 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N47, 11-23-1894, 1093

— 33 Other than Mil. Jan-Sep 24 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N40, 5 Oct 1894, 867.

— 15 “ Aug 1-20 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N35, 8-31-1894, 700.

— 4 “ Aug 21-Sep 9 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N37, 9-14-1894, 759.

— 1 Rhinelander Dec 18-24 USMHS. Abstract of Sanitary Reports, X/1, 1-4-1895, p. 2.

— 1 Spring Prairie Nov 5-19 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N47, 11-23-1894, 1093

— 1 Two Rivers Oct 23-Nov 5 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N46, 11-16-1894, 1064

— 3 “ Dec 3-10 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N50, 12-14-1894, 1172

— 2 Wauwatosa Sep 10-24 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N40, 5 Oct 1894, 867.

— 7 “ Sep 25-Oct 8 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N42, 19 Oct 1894, 935

— 1 “ Oct 8-22 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX, N43, 26 Oct 1894, 968

— 1 “ Oct 23-Nov 5 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N46, 11-16-1894, 1064

— 1 “ Nov 5-19 USMHS. Weekly…San. Rpts., V.IX/N47, 11-23-1894, 1093

District of Columbia

Eliot:^[9] “….It is unfortunate that the Smallpox Hospital is not always kept ready for use, since when patients are under treatment it is almost impossible to find men willing to enter the building to make repairs that may be needed, such as replacing broken window panes, fitting keys, and other like jobs, or to assist in putting up stoves, screens, or do scrubbing. Being in the Smallpox Hospital is like being in the grave, for one is cut off from all association with those on the outside….” (p. 1290)

“In this day of general enlightenment it would appear uncalled for to refer to the benefits of vaccination, but while this enlightenment pervades all classes of society it must be admitted that vaccination has gone out of fashion and a state of apathy on this subject has taken its place. In 1871 the same condition of indifference existed and it required an epidemic, which encircled the world, to bring the people to a correct appreciation of the beneficial effects of a successful vaccination….” (p. 1292)

“During the late war between the States there occurred among the United States forces, the following cases of smallpox…May 1, 1861, to June 30, 1866…a total of 18,952 cases with 7,058 deaths…Among the Confederate prisoners we find 9,830 cases occurred with 2,624 deaths…[9,682 smallpox deaths]. During the last ten years, however, but 3 deaths from smallpox have occurred in the United States Army, where vaccination is compulsory. Smallpox is a preventable disease, in every sense of the term preventable, through an immunity conferred upon the system through a successful vaccination….” (p. 1293)

Sources

Chicago Commissioner of Health. Annual Report of the Department of Health of the City of Chicago for the Year ended December 31, 1894. Chicago: 1895. Accessed 12-31-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=_y-6L3g_RxEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

City of Philadelphia. First Annual Message of John E. Reyburn, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia with the Annual Reports of the Departments of Public Health and Charities, Supplies, Public Education, Law, City Controller, City Treasurer, Commissioners of the Sinking Funds, Receiver of Taxes, and Board of Revision of Taxes for the Year Ending December 31, 1907 (Vol. III). Philadelphia: Dunlap Printing Co., 1908. Google digitized. Assessed 12-5-2012: http://books.google.com/books?id=0ihNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Cordell, Eugene Fauntleroy, M.D. The Medical Annals of Maryland, 1799-1899. Baltimore, 1903. Accessed 12-31-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=Wx8SAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=true

Eliot, Llewellyn, M.D. “Report of Dr. Llewellyn Eliot, M.D.” Beginning at p. 1290 in Annual Report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for the Year Ended June 30, 1895. Washington: Gov. Printing Office, 1895. Accessed 2-16-2015 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ymE3AQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true

Indiana Medical Journal. “The Small-pox Epidemic in Delaware County.” Vol. XVIII, No. 12, June 1900. Accessed 12-31-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=no5XAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

New Jersey Board of Health. 29^th Annual Report of the Board of Health of the State of New Jersey and Annual Report of the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Trenton: 1905. Accessed 12-25-2019 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Documents_of_the_Legislature_of_the_Stat/K4NDAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Fifty-Third Report of Births, Marriages, and Deaths in the Commonwealth; Returns of Libels for Divorce, and Returns of Deaths Investigated by the Medical Examiners, for the Year 1894. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., State Printers, 1895. Accessed 12-19-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZC1RAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

United States Marine-Hospital Service, U.S. Treasury Department. Abstract of Sanitary Reports Volumes IX-X, Jan 1984-Jan 1985. Accessed 12-31-2019 at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/428/#waosr

Woodward, Wm. C., M.D. Report of the Health Officer to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for the Year Ended June 30, 1895. Beginning at p. 1055 in Annual Report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for the Year Ended June 30, 1895. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1895. Accessed 2-15-2015: https://books.google.com/books?id=ymE3AQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true

Woodward, Wm. C., M.D. Appendices to the Report of the Health Officer of the District of Columbia. Beginning at p. 1099 in Annual Report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for the Year Ended June 30, 1895. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1895. Accessed 2-15-2015: https://books.google.com/books?id=ymE3AQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true

[1] An 18-month-old child of an Interior Department clerk just returned from a visit to Vermont.

[2] Suspect this is a reference to Mrs. Margaret Pemberton, a nurse in the DC smallpox hospital who died on Nov 17. (Woodward. Report of the Health Officer to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for the Year Ended June 30, 1895. 1895, p. 1057.)

[3] The date refers to admittance to the smallpox hospital of a black male. It is noted that he died, but not when.

[4] The date refers to admittance to the smallpox hospital of a black male. It is noted that he died, but not when.

[5] Writes there were several smallpox deaths. For purpose of contributing to tally we convert “several” into three.

[6] From Table IX. – Causes of Death.

[7] Includes Menominee, Muskegon, Otsego and Sturgis.

[8] Table entitled “Deaths from Smallpox from 1807 to 1907, inclusive, and Rate per 1,000 of Population.” Notes death rate of 0.011 per 1,000 population. Previous year death rate was 0.004.

[9] When there was an outbreak of smallpox in DC in late 1894, Dr. Eliot was put in charge of reopening and running the Smallpox Hospital.