“Pest House” Built

It was also decided at this meeting to locate a suitable building for temporary hospital quarters. On April 22, just three days after the meeting, a crude barn-like structure at 16th and Gutenberg streets, on the site of the Ranger station, was completed and moved into. A separate building adjoining was erected to be used as a detention house. Long after the smallpox scare was over many of our citizens remember seeing this larger building on the hillside. It was arranged into four wards, a kitchen and a chute and all the necessary appurtenances for the care of the ill. Dr. William H. Muelchi, a young man who had graduated from Rush Medical School in March, 1891, volunteered and was assigned to stay at the hospital for the duration and to administer to the patients. Dr. Muelchi was the father of Mrs. Nelson Fenn and Mrs. Joe Stockert, Tell City; Dr. Adeline Muelchi, Evansville; and Mrs. Leah Burrows, New Harmony.

Two Fatalities

Of the 17 cases treated in the Pest House, nine were quite severe and two were fatal, Abe Montgomery and Mrs. Lizzie Ross. Both fatalities were colored persons and their bodies were interred on the hillside a short distance from the hospital. A letter in Dr. Muelchi’s records written by Dr. William Cluthe, city health officer, gave detailed instructions as to the preparation of the bodies for burial using liberal amounts of various disinfectants. Of the 17 cases it is noteworthy that the disease occurred in only three houses and only four miles were affected.

Uses Talking Board

An interesting account of how Dr. Muelchi communicated with the city health officer and other doctors is given in Dr. Muelchi’s records. A ‘Talking Board” was set up and here Dr. Cluthe called on an average of three or four times a week to inquire as to the condition of patients and to offer suggestions as to treatment.