The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-13
OUR SUMNER EPIDEMICS.
SMALLPOX AND CHOLERA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Yesterday noon large and important meeting OF tho
Medical Bcnrd OF tho Eastern Dispensary held at
the Dspensary Building Grand and Essex Streets called
for tho special purpose demonstrating the continued pres
ence in this city OF smallpox and cholera infantum
diseases which have caused frightl mortality and
which, thus far the authorities have been unable to
control Tho attending and district visiting physicians
OF this dspensary constantly in the midst Of tho
epdemics which carry something like 100 children day
untimely graves and it thought their experience
and suggestions would DO OF practical benefit TO the
public. Among the medical gentlemen present wero
DR.. r. J. o'Suliyan, Henry Raphael, N. d. DR.. Will
lam f. Griffith Of tho Brooklyn Board Of Health; DR..
David Brekes Dr.. William f. Fluhrer DR.. Fuller
Walker DIR. Charles Miller, Dr. John P. Granget, DR..
Thomas II. Hawkins and other gentlemen.
In calling tho meeting TO order the President of tho
Board Dr. o'Sulivan, said the public had right to
look the physicians of the Eastern Dispensary for
authentic information relating TO the prevailing epdem
les Referring to smallpox he did not hesitate say
that the house to house vaccinations of tho Board OF
Health have not been success; that the ndiscrim-
nate removal Of tho sick from their homes to tho
Smallpox Hospital induced concealment and propagn-
ton OF the disease and that there is total neglect
OF the sanitary interests OF schools In city
ated like New York, with immense foreign popula-
and the annual arrival OF vast numbers of immi-
grants there is always liability TO smallpox AT tho
beginning Of epidemic this disease is allowed gain
considerable Roadway and is fastened on the commu-
nifty before the authorities aroused to action Be-
fore the Indispensable red tape has been cut the cpl
demic has become general DR.. o'Sulllvan
had no faith in the indscrminate attempt
at vaccination by inexperienced young men
fresh from the college bcnches-young medical
birds with scarcely their feathers Tho operation is
hastily performed he sad and the practice heretofore
has been rarely to reinspec the person vaccinated
less for removal of vaccine stock large portion Of
the tenement house population havo been and are OPP
posed to vaccination and the result or that admirable
prophyactc has not been reassurng owing to the bad
management referred to- This will partly explain why
the present epidemic of smallpox continued TO
"a riddle 10 the publc) until August or until the natu-
raj decline which is characteristic Of an epidemic
There is considerable difficulty in the treatment OF this
disease in the tenement houses Eases are haoe 70 oc
cur and constantly occurring where removal IS Inn
perativeIy demanded Admitting all this Dr. OSullivan
entered his protest against the present pracuce Oh re-
moval Of patients from their houses Parents dread to
have their children removed to the Smallpox Hospital
and owing to this cause they conceal their SICK ana do
call in the services either of physicians or the Board
Of Health In these cases OF concealment, when
u physician is called the patient is usually
in a hopeless condition the object being TO
get certificate This has been fruitful source OF tho
propagation Of the disease When cases are reported TO
the Board of Health and all the mischief that is likely
to be done has already taken place. the danger OF relapse
the patient is increased and protection TO the rest of
ceedng of removal at this stage OF the disease Iese
ndiscriminate removals are unpopular. few days
since lawyer of high standing related TO Dr. OSuvan
an instance where patient who had suffered from tho
disease for several days reported to the Board OF
Health. Upon the arrival of the ambulance the patient
had disappeared being concealed in the cellar while tho
search going occurred few days ago in
Dr. OSulvans own practice. Tho case was reported
10 the Board Of Health, and upon examination by the
authorities some twenty four hours after it admit
tod that the conditions OF careful nursing would be fully
secured if the case could be retained with safety
btit idadt IN
of the mpossiby Of knowing that danger OF contagion
could be against Whether the setting apart Of
in the upper story of tenement houses for hos
pal purposes practicable If under the control of tho
Health Board is question for their determination and
worthy Of serious consideration.
In reference to the neglect of the sanitary interests or
our schools Dr. O'Sullivan remarked that IL is now two
and half years since tho position Of physician to tho
Board of Education abolished. Unquestionaby tho
vaccination of the pupils Of the schools Of 1871 has
served n protection during the present epidemic.
There has been partial vaccination in tho schools dur
ing the spring of this year by the Board of Health Tho
principals Of schools usually keep careful record
Of vaccinations, but they have no means OF knowing
other than that furnished by the child IL is not TO DO
presumed that such certificates of vaccination as may
be presented be relied upon and the only safeguard
would to be that the Board of Education should be
required by law to know that the examination is made
by sanitary superintendent attached 10 and RESPONSE
bic to the Board Not long ago antors assistant in
a Thirty second street school sick with smallpox
for several days before the Board of Health discovered
the fact The man was sick in room connecting with
the yard in which the children played A teacher in
OF public schools recently reported to DR..
OSullivan the fact that several children attending
her school who came from families where there were
cases of smallpox She called the attention Of the
Board Of Health 10 the fact and that the last Of it.
DR. John p Gourpet called the attention Of the Board
to the fact that he recently called TO case OF
smallpox which he reported in person To the Board OF
Health Wednesday, at ten o'clock a. NJ II was not
until the following Saturday afternoon four days that
the ambulance corps made its appearance The woman
then taken from her residence, Clinton street,
and either died on the way TO the Smallpox Hospital or
Immediately after reaching the Island. He also said
that the present Vaccine Bureau sends out boys and
young men who have graduated to perform vac
cinations boy, formerly employed at the Eastern
Dspcnsary has been engaged in vaccinatng the people
DR. Fuller Walker reported 10 tho Board the case OF
child, living at No GA Water street. who had been al
most literally covered with enormous blOtchcs and run
ming since its vaccination by the bureau, two or
three weeks ago The child was one Of healthy fam
lily, and had shown symptoms Of disease until vacci-
mated. The mother affirmed that tho vaccinaor had
not the child a second time. Other women in the
house said they had never received second visit from
the officers OF the Vaccine Bureau, nor any certlcae
of vaccination. A child was presented TO the Board
which has suffered for two years from an
improper vaccination. Tho trunk and limbs
cholera nfantum, Dr. Fuller Walker had recently made
inspection Of Water, Cherry Front Jackson, Cannon
and other streets In that part of tho city which were
Ia filthy and noisome condition and disgrace to civil
izaton The prevailing damp weather ofthe past two or
three weeks had aggravated the condition of affairs
Children were seen on the cold sidewalks almost naked,
eating half rotten and unwhoesome food-mclon rnds,
decayed peaches, unripe apples &c There was vast
amount Of poverty in that part of the city, and whole
families suffering for the want OF proper and suf
ncient nourshment He knew Of families at No 272
Delaney street. No % Cannon street and other places
where there sick children, and nearly every
the verge of starvation. little tea coffee
and bread was all they could get and not enough OF
that Proper medical attendance can be extended TO all
the sick poor but they need some means to enablo
them to secure good food and hygienic conditions
DIR. David Brckes Of the district visiting physi-
clans had found many like the presented by
Dr. Fuller Walker where, after vaccination, the child
breaks out into frighu sores. He had the flesh
OF the almost eaten TO tho bone at the point OF
vaccination lie thought this condition Of things was
the result Of sheer neglect Of the little patient The
proportion Of bad cases is small when compared with
the successful The Doctor said that the enormous
amount Of poverty which exists in this city to-day is
Of all proportion to what has existed heretofore.
He this state Of things among the people every
where, and has no doubt it furnishes soil for the
propagation OF all contagious diseases He accounted
for the fact that children have been dying at the rate OF
100 day the ground of the intense poverty of the
people
DR.. Henry Raphael said that when he was connected
with tho Board OF Health the vaccnators were urged TO
vaccinaie many possible. Great numbers must
be got In order that magnificent display Of figures
might be made for tho benefit Of the public The re-
Fufg vaccinations after. that