The New York herald., 1870-02-13
SMALLPOX.
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DIR. HARnIS' LAST ErISTLE.
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A Eusl Resume of the
COntagiOn.
The Streets, Public Schools and
Injected Districts.

Ths following important communication explains
all the facts connected with the existence of small
pox this city, the onlcial signature OF Or.
Harris:-
To THE SECRETARY OF THE METROPOLITAN BOARD
SIR have the honor TO SUBMIT to tho Board OF
Health a brief summary OF the records or smalpo
In New York during The past sixteen months. This
record seems To be due TO the public In this con-
densed FORM as It Is truth in public hygiene that
the people have right to be informed OF all that
TO which tney are or to which they have been
posed. An epidemic OF smallpox IL now passing
anayzed Will be instructive ana useful to the world.
And II some OF the events In this recent outbreak
shall chance to disturb and weaken the popular trust
Ia what has hitherto been called vaccination the re-
suits that nave attended the efforts OF the sanitary
oifcers TO give all pracucabie efficacy TO the Jen-
nerlon practice or vaccine lnnoccuati0n Will help to
rectify blind popular belief that merely to have
been marked with . scar on the arm without regard
to the nature OF the virus that made the vesice and
scar, was an insurance against smallpox.
An epidemic OF smallpox became an inevitable
fact twelve mouths ago. IL was announced as being
toned to the Board In December, 1885, and even as
early as June 0l that year gave us more anxiety In
could have been caused by cnolera We tnen esti.
mated that more than 100000 persons In TINS city
were not protected by an adequate ana trustworthy
Eariy IN February the medical oflcers of this
Board began TO vaccinate and urge vaccination IN
the more unprotected portions OF tne city. Still the
disease gained rapidly by means winch the Board
could reach ana control. Upwards OF 1000, 900
OF people, and nearly 100000 closely packed IN over
crowded tenements, presented task which could
only be partially completed before midsummer.
The children and wholly unvaccinaled persons only
tary Inspectors mad vaccnaed about As 600 persons
OF these classes mostly young children; nearly
selected and carefully cultivated virus only almost
the entire stock which matured week by week was
required by the Boards physicians.
During the months OF July, August and September
smallpox ceased almost completely throughout oil
those sections OF the city In which the OF child
vaccination was nearly complete. For example, In
the sixteenth and twentieth wards whicn had no
less tnan sIxty-eght cases OF smallpox under our
care IN the months OF May ana June. where, also the
disease malignant IN character. there was cx-
ceedlngly thorough work In the house to house
enation; and from July 10 to December only seven
more cases OF the disease occurred and those mostly
where the offer OF vaccination had been refused IN
June.
The subioined records show that in the three
months ending July 10, 2os cases OF smallpox came
under the observation OF sanitary inspectors; and
that In the next succeeding three months III cases
OF the same disease were reported 10 us. The oifce
records show that nine-tenhs OF the cases during
the latter period were found in the East Houston
district; ana, further that THESE were amost ex-
mans. The particular district IN which these
events occurred occupies less than one square
mile, and contains nearly 10000 Inhabitants.
The Tenement House sanitary Survey found
IN many Of tho single blocks or squares
OF vaccination WAS not intermJted, bur as the cold
weather came ON and families smut up their apart
ments more CLOSELY the cOntaglon spread from more
than hundred centres IN that eastern district; and
from the last week In October until the last NSek in
January we have had To take charge OF $50 Of
smallpox tinOstly varlOlOid). aud chiefly within the
narrow limits OF the district wnicn Is bounded by
East Twentieth street, the East river, Broome street,
B0wery, Houston street and First avenue. In the
duty OF vaccinating and house to house inspection
The entire medical corps has been on duty incea-
sanity, the Sanitary Superintendenrs office being
closed only from Mldnlpht until eight A. M. daily,
and no eort or toll Oeng spared In the duty OF the
hour.
During all this time the pupils In the public schools
have, 30 far as We are informed, renamed free from
smallpox, except In tine case OF i've uuvaccinated
children. The duty OF vaccination In the BcnOOls
vas generally well attended TO last June.
The following tables present statistical record OF
the number Of deaths from smaDOx In the hospital
the number IN dwelling houses the number OF cases
reported by quarters for the year ending December
81, 1859, and Dy weeks from January to February
g. 1S70:-