New-York tribune., 1871-07-01
LOCAL MISCELLANY:
DANGER OF A SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC

DANNEh VT SmAllrIOA EIli)EMlt.
SPREAD OF THE DISEASE DURING THE YEAR
l,3OO CASES REPORTED IN SIX MONTHS-TuE
HEALTH BOARD AFTER THE PHYSICIANS
An officer of the Health Board, who has
eused himself tracing Origin and spread Of small
pox In this city during the present year. has prepared
map showing the number of in the city since the
LIST Of January, and the localities most seriously affected
There have been frequently many reported
In single day. and 1900 in all have under the
Of the Health Board the patients being either sent to
hospital OF closely Quarantined In their houses.
Probably many have not been reported at
all. Fifty cases have existed in the city at the
tme and the Inspectors think there are fully that
ber at present beside others not reported by the phys
clans who have them in charge. The Board complain
that derecon Of duty in this respect by the physicians
Is very common, many medical gentlemen resentng any
interference by the Health Board insulting and
iustiabe. II TO this mistaken of dignity and
duty their part that the Inspectors Of the Department
attribute the spread OF the disease.
There is hardly doubt that the disease came to the
city from the Hospital Blackwes Island. Patients
discharged as cured from the Hospital are known TO
have sold their old clothing unkmen in the Nineteenth
Ward and here the disease first made its appearance
and spread most rapidly. Twentythree found
In the single block between Fortyhft and Fortysxth-
sts and Second and Thirdaves. 1t extended at once
across town 10 the Twentysecond Ward and then down
the East and West sides simultaneously being carried
by passengers I'm the sreotcars Inspectors frequently
detected cases in the cars and removed the unwilling
patient at to the Hospitals The East side along
First ana SecOndaves suffered most In the block between
Thirty first and Thtysecondsts and First and Second
26 found The region about Ludlow and
EsseX-sts in the Tenth Ward, suffered severely, and
many found in the Fifth aud Sixth Wards.
The center Of the city along Broadway and Fifth-ave.
almost entirely exempt, and few found
there az present
In view Of the prevalence OF this disease Dr. Morris
Sanitary superintendent, has urged upon physicians
closer observance of the regulations requiring them 70
report Of contagious diseases coming under their
care and has supplemented by instructions 10 the pub
lie generally upon various means Of prevention fol-
lows.
His general directions for the sanitary Of patients
sick with smallpox scaratna,m a,mcaslcs dphthcra, yellow
fever require that the scroom shall be- chosen the
upper floor fpoSsibe, and kept well ventilated with such
precautions as not To expose the patient 20 direct drafts
Of air occasionally covering the patient entirely ana
throwing wide open all doors and windows for te"
pure one. Frequent slight fumigatiOn Of the
room by throwing few drops Of carboic
room small pieces of cloth soaked in dilute solu-
ton of carboc acid TO 200 parts Of water also IN the
Railways adjoining. With reference 20 the sanitary care
OF smallpox specially vaccination and revaccHatQn as
preventive means, is paramount to all Othcrs We nave
yet learn Of persons having been attacked with small
before tbev had becone Infected ome cases of variood
have occurred where the person had been exposed TO the
infection before the revaccnation had been peTormed)
and 6OOOO persons have been yaccinated or |
Next In order to vaccination. as preventive OF the
spread smallpox, isolation Of each individual case.
the indy ydua case is allowed 10 remain where
may within its presence, and by passing in
and out of The room, from careless exposure OF in
fected articles endauger Others so long VIII this disease
find victims in crowded communities. Our cosmopolitan
population. democratic habits intermiugling
in every conceivable way exposes us 10 any ana every
form infection. Therefore, where isolation cannot be
perfect and strict quarantine maintained, public danger
cOmpels legislation for its projections the individual
must yield TO the force OF necessity, and submit TO forced
isolation; and, lastly. dsnfecton must be employed
the OF arresting its further spread. Public
officers in the discharge OF this duty often blamed
aud censured for what appears to tue individual an in
reference with his rights but in their obligations both
their profession and TO the public, they are com
PEELED 10 perform duties and execute commands which |
may he disagreeabe and Onerous, though Is TO be
hoped without ncurring the odiun OF discourtesy OF
nl-wiu OF their medical brethren.