New-York tribune., 1873-02-01
THE SMALL-POXIN BOSTON.
A PEsTILENCE RESULTING FROM RED TAPE.

AND VIGOROUS MEASURES.
fPRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBUNE
BosToN, JAM S0.-After long months of
anxiety, fear and suspense, Boston again begins TO
breathe freely The city Is passing through transition
were from loathsome disease to prospective good
health. II is curious and sad story, strange expert
ence that OF the last six or eight months, and
probably city government Will pass into
history with hated memory as that
which expired on the first Mondaylin January. Your
columns have told OF the excellence Of the material OF
which our municipal rulers are composed OF our
bachelor Mayor Pierce and the vgor be s expected TO III
fuse INTO the proceedings Of the City Fathers OF the
sterling qualities which shine In the characters OF our
Aldermen, and the ability which marks many OF the
members oftheCOmmon Council, the popular branch OF
the City Government They entered Office at an inau-
spcous tme when were TO be acted
upon promptly, and with loathsome legacy on their
hands, referred to their consideration by their prede
SO far the regime has worked exceedingly
we they grappled the monster by the horns, and did
Just what the public have been oam0rng,for these long
months OF sufIerng-deegated their powers as board
of health independent body Of competent physi
clans, who were nominated by the Mayor. This new
board is composed OF Drs Boardman, Durgin, ana
Whiting and although less than fortnight has elapsed
their appointment, they have accomplished some
thing toward stopping the further spread of the conta
gion, and remarked before Boston again begins TO
breathe freely.
ITS FIRST APPEARANCE A YEAR AGO.
Last Winter the smallpox made its appearance AT the
North End. among the filthy tenemenhouses-the very
slums OF the city. Beyond occasional case the dis
ease had not obtained foothod in the city for many
years, and there was too much "cOnscious security
felt by the authorities and citizens generally. The
Board OF Aldermen or ofeo the Board OF Health
of the city, and hedeas OF their work in this respect
had for long time been delegated to Especial committee
Of the members of that body The law which compelled
isolation Of smallpox patients had been repealed ana IL
was impossible for the health officers to remove an
afflicted person without order from the Board OF Al
dermen. There was smallpox department TO the City
Hospital at the south end with accommodations TOT 70
or 80 patients and these kept full all through the
Winter. general axness in the administration OF the
health ordinances had become prevalent New caseswere
not reported, to the officials FumigaOn was praeteed
only by the few who intelligent enough to under
stand their duties Among the lower classes where the
disease was most prevalent few precautions were
taken to prevent the spread Of the conagon nor were
patients properly cared for during their sickness only
when the stricken man or woman was likely 10 De an
expensive burden upon those with whom he OF she
lived was a reported; and when member
Of family sick, pains were studiously taken 10
keep the matter secret from the authorities Even phy
scians lent their aid to this criminal deception and
several incurred the penalty of fine in the courts
thereby. Occasionally unlucky head OF family
against whom policeman might have had speclal
grudge was prosecuted for not reporting the disease IN
his house; but he would manage to take ad
vantage Of the laws delays by appealing TO
a higher court, and there the case would
take its place the foot of long docket and pass out
of memory before being called for trial. The hospital
accommodations being limited and there being no Pro-
nounced effort keep the conagion within specified
district spread from the North End TO East Boston,
South Boston, and the Highlands. Spring came, and
every one hoped that with the return OF warm weather
it would die out OF ITSELF Snguarly enough the disease
seized upon infants at the breast and small children who
could not be removed from their homes, and who could
be cared for only by their parents or nearest fends
The supposion that these had measles caused insult
able attention, and in numerous instances spread OF
the disease through whole households sun nothing
was DONE II would be hard to assume that the neglect
nv the Board of Health, rather the Board of Alder
men, was willful and intentional The powers OF the
health officers were restricted by statutes, and
department had really any authority for vigorous
action. The Committee. on Health heard peti-
TONERS tell their stories and quietly referred them
to the City Physician, Dr. Green, who be 1t said to his
credit was willing 10 do anything, but was powerless.
except to visit the sick at their homes and order them TO
the hospital at the South End or send them 70
Island whenever there happened to be vacancy IN the
from The treets and the cleansing of the cesspoos
carrying out special orders Of the Aldermen the supern-
tendent Of Health, Mr.. Forrista had no authority 10
act, II he had been disposed.
THE DISEASE DIMINISHED DURING THE SUMNER.
The disease diminished during the Summer months,
but the hold it had taken at the North End and in East
Boston was sufficiently firm 10 insure Its continuance till
Autumn and Winter. The busy season of trade
TO stay agitation lest the fullpursed buyers
Of goods should be deferred from visiting Boston.
Every attache of the City Government had season
tickets for himself and another and what Alderman or
could expected TO think of the smallpox when such
ang event as the Worlds Musical Festival was on the
,,fo, n Iivx xVhp wQrn
role of entertainers Of distinguished guests The police
were transferred from their usual routine duties OF pro
pleasing recreation OF looking after lnteropers IN tne
Coliseum and OF appaudng the music The newspapers
were full OF advertisements and Jubilee reports, aud
such commonplace topic as the smallpox found no
place in N he the S Gnie OF Ee ae
ber of deaths from the disease.
Meantime complaints began to be made OF the location
Of ,the smaIpox Hospital al the South End within the
City Hospital incosure. Patients who recovered told
bad fare of dirty linen Residents in the vicinity raised
great hue and cry about the location Of the peshouse
1T emitted stencil that pervaded the whole neighbor-
hood il was spreading the contagion families in the
immediate vicinity, and was deterorating the value OF
the swell fronts on Newton-st. and Harrson-aye In
this state Of affairs the only city official who stood firmly
his post of duty DR.. Greenthe City Physician He
tirey sacrificed by his attention the smallpox pa
tients. He represented the situation, whenever oe;
members SsaH Of the city Government, predicted
the consequences OF delay. -. and urged de. de.
palms. told that when his advice twas asked for he
would be appealed TO. And as If to make their dsap
probation more pronounced. the Committee on Health,
during DR.. Green's absence from the city on a two
weeks vacation in the Summer ordered the abolition OF
the pesthouse at the South End This left only the
small place Galloupes Island down the harbor acces
sbe only by steamer and against the Journeys TO which
strong prejudice existed in the minds Of both physi
Clans and people.
WITH AUTUMN THE PEsTILENCE INCREASES.
In some weeks during the Summer the death-rate
wouldbe as low half DOZEN then 1t would number
dozen OF more then fall again and thus it kept fuc
mot Of W of
enforcing it vaccination talked Of but not gener
ally performed and people hardly realized the true state
of affairs until the GOODNESS of Autumn began to
make perceptible increase In the death-rate.
MaYnr (iaaton sent q message TO the Council