The New York herald., 1874-08-11
THE SMALLPOX SCARE
The Board Of Health Confident Of Beat
ing the Disease.
REASONS FOR THE ALARMING RUMORS
The Present State of the Disease
Fully Explained.

uAiy GAPAoA1Cus
The very name OF the smallpox creates a dread
among the people OF large city, the terrible dis
ease always being sure to leave behind it a record
Of many deaths Within few years past this
city has mad Its share OF the terrible ravages OF the
conragion, and the recollection OF the scare has
yet died out from the minds OF New York citizens.
10 was, therefore, with great alarm that the
nouncement fell upon the ears OF
MILLION OF GOTHAMITEs
that the smallpox was in midst ana was max
ing Its way with dangerous tread among the
homes OF the poorer classes Like all other an
nouncements bearing the burden OF a dread catas-
tropne, there was a large amount OF exaggerarlon
IN she first rumors and reports upon which the
startling news was founded. careful examina-
ton of the present state OF the disease in the city
leads to the conclusion that no apprehen-
sion OF its spread reed be felt. The Board
Of Health on1cers. while alive to the presence OF
the contagion the poorer districts OF the city, do
not think that anytnlng like an epidemic hangs
over the city now. so far from their thinking SO
they are unanimous in believing that
THE SMALLPOX CAN BE BArrLED AGAINST
by the present efficient corps OF physicians who
are employed as inspectors, and that with or
dinary precautions the disease can be kept down
70 the usual degree OF mortality. They are OF
opinion that the number OF cases which nave al
ready occurred do not by any means loreshadow
q larger diffusion OF the contagion, nor are there
any grounds whatever upon which TO base a
theory that during the coming spring and winter
the city viii sufer from the dreaded malady. But
still the disease needs 10 be grappled with in no
tardy manner with vs cillating measures. 1t
is intended before the close OF the month to open
THE vAccNATING BUREAU
in the Mulberry street building and to enter upon
the duties OF protecting the city by vaccination
with energy and determination. The process OF
vaccination Is fully believed IN by the medical
ofncers Of the Board OF Health, and they point TO
the very few OF smallpox which occurred
last year TO show the erectual preventive vacci-
nation is against the disease, for during the pre-
ceding spring and winter over iour hundred thou
sand persons were vaccinated In this city. At
the present time the inspectors have redoube
their exertions IN following up the disease, and SO
far their efforts seem TO have been attended with
satisfactory results
OPINION or THE DOCTORS.
The medical men say that the numbers who have
been attacked this summer do not indicate any
thing unusual, and alege as a reason that q con-
siderable time has elapsed since the vaccinaurg
ceased last year, and during that time number
Of children have been born In the city and large
numter OF emigrants have arrived and settled here.
These causes are quite sufficient to explain why
the disease this year has been so much in excess
of last year, though scarcely worth mentioning
beside the figures OF that previous time when the
contaglon seized the people by the hundred.
THE PROGRESS OF THE DISEASE.
Through the courtesy OF DIT. James, the Regis
trar Of Vital statistics. the HRRALD reporter was
enabled yesterday to note the progress Of the dts
ease from the beginning OF June TO the present
ul,. thns
disease evidently needs serious watching, yet II IL
well within check tnat the hopes OF tue doctors
are le% HS' wsSs' WEEKS the SS disease NV was na not
confined chiefly TO any one district
city much IN the same way as any one Of the or.
dinary contagious diseases. But lately II mas
taken hold to great extent In the eastern up
town section OF the city, above Ftieth street. es-
peciay among the shantles IN which dwell Irish
and Italian families. These people have perfect
HORROR or THE SMALLPOX HOSPITAL
on Black wells Island, and seemingly would rather
die in their miser able novels than allow them
selves to be there cared ior by the skilled hands OF
q physician. Since the smallpox found It's way up
among these poor people the inspectors have had
rest neither day nor night Tor tney nave not only
to make war upon the disease itself, out 10 exer-
clse all their ingenuity to conquer the friends OF
the stricken ones, who nave positive hatred OF
Smallpox Hospital. 1t is very seldom that case
OF smallpox occurs In the city without some knowi-
edge OF il reaching the officers OF the Board or
Health. Indeed Dr. James assured the reporter
that the great trouble aoout these notifications
Is that IN the majority OF cases the Inspectors are
put TO the trouble OF attending upon the calls only
to find that no smallpox at all exists, and this
takes very valuable time from more necessary
duties. Lut IN regard 10 the disease In
THE sHANTIEs
In the uptown districts the inspectors are sorely
puzzled. Notwithstanding the greatest watchfu-
ness the families OF the diseased will shield and
hide them. An inspector Will visit shanty, pro.
nounce the case one oil smallpox, and then leave
to summon the ambnlance but before either the
doctor or the ambulance arrives the friends Will
have conveyed the patent to some otner shanty,
thus cheating the doctor and carrying the disease
into another family. This has been the rule
among these people since the smallpox
broke ont among them. This thwartng OF
the physicians has even gone so far that
the inspectors have known patient
TO have been carried away to three different shan
ties, as the doctor tracked him Tom one to the
other. In one instance, a bad case Dr. Fowler
was compelled to remain entire day In the
vicinity, without dinner or supper, and was not
darkness he traced the patient TO his latest bunk
Elsewhere than among the shanties ths system OF
apscondlng IL practsed, and In these cases there
is always sure TO be spread OF the disease. In
cases which permit OF isolation it is not demanded
20 the smallpox Hospital; but these cases are
comparatively very few. The inspectors, Drs.
Viele and Fowler are now fully alive to their work
among the sbanties, and believe that no case OF
smallpox Is at the present moment to be found In
tho neighbOrhood. However, owing 10 the secrecy
preserved by these poor people, il has been found
tnat In several cases no knowledge OF the disease
was had until the permit for burial became neces-
sary Tor the removal OF the smallpox CORPSE IL is
owing to this secrecy that the number OF cases for
the week ending August reached thirty five. the
highest NUMBER for any one week during the sum
mer.
SMALLPOX RECORD.
The following statement, received from DR..
James, Will snow the number OF smallpox
during June and July and up to the present
date
EOr week NnTtber For Week Number
Ending Of cases. Ending OF cases.
June 6............... 26 July A.. ........... II
June 10. ~ 70
June 70. W........... II July 1s................ 10
June q. ......-.... 19 July 25............... 25
From July Is TO August l there were fifteen
cases, and Tor the ensuing week there were thirty
five cases as has been stated. Since the Stn inst,
there have been three cases.
DEATHS.
The deaths, as reported on DR.. Janes' books are
as oIows:-June "a, one at No. go East sixty
sixth street; June 25 one in Third street; July l.
one at l2otn street; July 9. one in sixth avenue.