Gunsmoke (TV Series) The Pest Hole (1956) User Reviews

Trouble in Dodge when an outbreak of typhoid fever hits

[kfo9494 · 7/10 · 13 May 2013]

When Doc Adams diagnose cases of typhoid fever in Dodge it sends the town leaders into an uproar. They do not want the news spread that a possible plague is running around Dodge and demands that Doc find out where the fever originated. With all the suspected subjects quarantined in the Marshal's jail, the only know fact is that they gather at Berdino's Restaurant about ten days ago to plan a German festival. That is the only lead that Doc has at this early stage of the outbreak.

But when one of the city leader, Cunningham, kills Berdino to stop the disease, Doc loses valuable information that could have been useful in tracing the cause of the fever. And then another fever victim comes to the office this time someone that never ate at Berdinos. Now Doc can only look at other factors that might have cause the outbreak. He does know that the festival included food cooked by the blacksmith named Betzer. Doc volunteers himself to eat food cooked by Betzer to see if he becomes sick. But before Doc can eat his portion, Chester comes in and snatches a bite. Now it will all depend if Chester gets the fever that could possibly kill him.

Milburn Stone has his largest part to date with this episode. He is still the grumpy hard-headed person in this early season rather than the lovable teddy bear from last seasons, but it works. Not really my cup of tea when we come to watchable shows but one that did hold my interest to the very end. Nice watch.

Doc Encounters a Medical Mystery

[wdavidreynolds · 7/10 · 6 December 2021]

Typhoid is spreading through Dodge City. The Marshal's office has been converted into a makeshift hospital with Kitty Russell and Olive from the Long Branch Saloon acting as caretakers and nurses. The citizens of Dodge are demanding action, and Doc Adams is on the hot seat.

Howard McNear makes the first of six appearances in the Gunsmoke television series. He plays the prominent Dodge resident known as Mr. Bradley in this episode. Most Gunsmoke fans know McNear portrayed Doc Adams on the radio version of Gunsmoke. In a few years he would begin his iconic series of performances as Floyd Lawson (Floyd Colby in one episode) on The Andy Griffith Show.

A couple of lesser-known veteran actors make their only Gunsmoke appearance in this episode. Patrick O'Moore plays Mr. Matthews, and Norbert Schiller portrays Franz Beltzer, a blacksmith.

Lisa Golm was a Jewish actress who fled Nazi Germany with her husband. In her only Gunsmoke role, she plays Mrs. Saur, once of the locals who becomes ill.

Evelyn Scott returns for the final time as Long Branch employee Olive. She had previously appeared in the "Tap Day for Kitty" episode. Howard Culver -- who often appeared as the hotel clerk, Howie -- plays Mr. Hannah. (Culver's character appears to be the same character that would later be addressed as "Howie." He states he is owner of the Dodge House. However, the last name used for Howie in a few other episodes is "Uzzell.")

This story addresses the harmful effects of fear on a large group of people, as well as exploring the state of medicine during the middle and late 1870s. This story predates the adult life of Mary Mallon, who was born in 1869 and later became known as "Typhoid Mary."

With this story, Gunsmoke viewers are treated to their first glimpse of the Doc Adams character that would become such a loved figure. Prior to this episode, Doc was a more cantankerous, confrontational character -- at times unlikable. He was often at odds with Matt Dillon in the earlier episodes. Here, the two demonstrate mutual respect and friendship.

Hold the Sausage

[dougdoepke · 9 September 2007]

An episode like this remains largely a matter of taste. A typhoid plague breaks out among Dodge residents turning the jail into a make-shift hospital ministered by Kitty and some of her girls from the Long Branch. Doc is thrust into the limelight as it falls upon him to track down the cause which has the potential to devastate the entire town. In the process, he reacts in very human ways by getting drunk and clashing with Matt over the enormity of the challenge. The potential here is for a searing drama, but the time-frame of 30 minutes means much of that will have to be passed over. On the whole, the emergency is pretty well handled, though look quickly because I think Chester is rather callously thrust into the role of human guinea pig. Considering how real the risk of plague was for people of that time, this 30 minutes serves as a useful reminder of what improved regulations have wrought for the quality of public health. Perhaps this is not the most classic of episodes, but as an historical reminder, it's a real public service.

Something you have not seen in any Gunsmoke episode.

[goldstrikejean · 10/10 · 21 May 2020]

Worth watching just to see doc drunk. Totally out of character but a necessary point to the plot.

Typhoid

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 25 June 2021]

"The Pest Hole" was first aired on television April 14, 1956.

(*Doc Adams quote*) - "It's everything that goes with typhoid."

Anyway - As the story goes - Doc Adams and Marshal Dillon race against time to determine the cause of an outbreak of typhoid.

Not Gunsmoke

[jdeamara · 30 June 2023]

This episode was not based on a radio script. Instead it was a screenplay created exclusively for the tv show by two writers, who, at this point, seem not to be overly familiar with what made the show work. What they wrote could have been written for any western anthology show. All the characters act out of character, especially Doc. Milburn Stone gives one of his worst performances. The plot itself doesn't really follow. To think that Doc would make the guess that the germs are being passed on by a person, the blacksmith himself when he cooks, and not in something the blacksmith uses to cook, is a bit of a stretch. Did he look into a crystal ball and see the future story of Typhoid Mary? Poor writing and a poor episode. It's just not Gunsmoke.