New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-01
TERRIBLE RAVAGES OF THE SMALL
POX IN PHILADELPHIA.
HORRIBLE SCENES AMONG THE POOR Oh
THE CITY-MANY DEATHS.

THE CITY-MANf DEATHS.
The PHILADELPHIA Inquirer of yesterday has accounts
of the appearance OF the smallpox in that city, and re-
ports that the disease has assumed very virnlent FORM
The Inquirer says
We are informed that that most terrible disease the
smapox has recently made its appearance with more
yirnlence and fatality than usual in of the small
streets in the Western section Of our city, In Murray
street small avenue running between SAMSON ana Lo-
Gust Streets and Twentieth and Iwenty-hrSt streets,
in the Eighth Ward four families have been attac ked
by the dsease and four five persons have died In
William street. running parallel with Murray street,
between Twentieth and Twenty irst streets several
poor families down. and 1t IL feared tat the most OF
those afflicted will die. About two weeks ago vsi-
tor Of the poor found child lying dead in one OF these
houses in most shocking state of decomposition The
stencil arising from the body was OF such character
that it was long time before an officer OF the Board
of Health could be found or induced TO remoyelt Two
or three children died day two ago, and were re-
moved by direction of the Guardians of the Poor Five
or six were taken from this locality and conveyed to
the Smallpox Hospital
In Hirst street running from Fifth 10 Sixth streets,
between Lombard and South streets, IN the tlith
Ward the disease made It's appearance about three
weeks ago in a colored family. Two persons were re-
moved from this locality by the officers OF the Guard
ians of the Poor.
In Locust street. between Twenty. first and Twenty
second streets an entire Irish family in bed and
will all probably die. The family consists of father
mother and four small children. OF course, none visit
the house but the NlkltOfb OF tne ,I'
rose whose mnstrations of aid TO this and other m
hes afflicted with this oahsOme disease are worthy o
higher concentrations than words can convey. When
all others have refused to attend he has promptly an
swered every demand Of this kind made upon him. The
residents Of this street avoid the place they would
pest house, And is it to be wondered at
The family would undoubtedly have starved to death
before this If il had not been for the contributions OF
food made to them by Mr.. Frank Smith, one OF the
Visitors of the Outdoor Poor Of the Third District
hos
families and thus far they have neither suffered Tor
food or professional attendance but their condition Is
such that in day or two death will undoubtedly re-
lieve them of their miseries.
To-day an entire family, named Citizen, residing in
Murray street, will be removed to the hospital. They
occupy a small brick house containing six rooms, and
with large family Of filthy and INDECENT persons in
each OF course the contagious disease Will soon
spread among the whole of Them and the Board Of
Health will have other recourse but to clear out
and to close up the building Unless they do this they
will be compelled to clear every house in the street
and board it up.
A charitable gentleman, who accidentally got into
this house. declares that during his life he never
saw and never before conceived that in single tene-
ment there could be such an accumulation OF men,
women, and children, animals, filth, and disease
confined in SO small circumference. II Is far worse
than the worst dens in Bedford street. Pine alley, or
Small street.
DIR. Thomas NJ. Penrose, jr., a young man, residing
at No. IS Lombard street, who has charge OF the lnd
gent sck Of the Third Poor District is deserving OF
the highest concentrations for his unremtng attention
TO these poor people Messrs. Cresson and Server,
two of the Guardians of the Poor, have done every
thing in their power to relieve the wants Of the suf
ferers.
One or two of these poor families have recently been
attended by the charitable sisters connected with the
Union Benevolent Association, but upon learning of
the presence of this shocking malady, they suddenly
left. And who would not The most Of these ladies
belong to our best families and of they have
desire to carry this foul disease into their homes.
If the Board of Health had attended to this matter
when il was first reported TO them, there would have
been but few victims TO the disease But il has been
neglected and the contagion is still spreading. With
these facts before hem will they not adopt
getc measures to protect the publicl