Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-03
CALIFORNIA.
smallpox at SAN Francisco Special
Meeting of the EOayd of Health.

SAN FRAHCIco, August 2d.-A special
meeting of the Board of Health was held to-
day. Present, Mayor Kalloch, Drs. Simp-
son and Gibbons.
DR.. Meares, Health Officer, at the request
of the Chairman, stated that the objects of
the meeting were to take measures to arrest
the spread of smallpox, several cases having
occurred in Chinatown of which he had no
notice until after death. He said that since
the last epidemic of the disease, in 1876, all
the school children had been vaccinated with
good virus, as the rules of the Board of
Health required such vaccination. He had
no apprehension of an epidemic at this time,
but thought preventive means should be
taken. Within the past few years virus
known to be defective had been used. The
old stock of virus was used up several years
ago. We might expect many cases. how
ever, from the fact that the Chinese secrete
their sick. Within the past few days three
fatal cases of smallpox had been discovered
in Chinatown, and the deceased must have
been sick at least twelve days. The disease
has been prevalent in Chinatown for weeks,
and we cannot expect to stop it here. The
first case appeared on Brannan street. It
was traced to young man who was shirt
cutter for Chinese workmen, and carried his
work to Chinatown. DIR. Meares thought
the Chinese quarter ought to be thoroughly
fumigated, and the disinfecting officers
would have an opportunity of discovering ex-
listing cases. A few years ago. under similar
circumstances, police officers accompanied the
fumigators, and they had no trouble in en-
forcing the orders of the Board. The better
class of Chinese were not only willing to as
sist the officers but were anxious to aid in the
good work. The action taken by the Board
at the last general appearance of the disease
in the city prevented the occurrence of but
few cases after the officers got to work.
Dr. Gibbons said that Health Officer Dr.
Rowell reported during the epidemic in
1869 that vaccination only increased the
susceptibility to contract the disease. The
applicants were vaccinated at that time by
the Clerk of the Board, and as he was not a
physician the work was probably improperly
DONE
DIR. Meares said it was the practice now all
over the United States to use bovine virus.
There was such prejudice formerly to the
use of bovine virus that homeopathic ply
sicians refused to use it. Now there is a
homeopathic physician who is agent for bo-
vine virus. Some of the virus formerly used
had doubtless been in use 20 or so years.
DIR. Gibbons wished to know of DIR. Meares
if he did not consider human virus was as ef
fective as bovine virus.
DIR. Meares thought not.
DIR. Gibbons believed it just as effective.
He did not understand why it would run cut
more than in COW.
DIR. Meares said he did not know, as there
were some things which could not be ex-
planned. 1t was not disease of the human
family but of the COW, and disease could be
transmitted by revaccination.
DR.. Simpson said he proposed to introJ1ce
resolutions to the effect that the Health OH
Ger be directed to employ necessary fuini-
gators for the city, and that the Chief of 70
lice be requested to aid in the work He
thought by this means the extension of the
disease might be arrested.
DIR. Meares said he agreed with DR.. S;np-
sons proposition. That while white persons
afflicted with smallpox were reported and
the afflicted taken care off. the Chinese did
not report the cases until it was necessary to
obtain burial certificate Then it was too
late to prevent spread of the disease He
was anxious to know if the Chinese Compa-
MES would take any interest in the matter.
He had no confidence in the heads of the
Chinese Companies from his past experience.
DR.. Simpson said the people in the East
would think we were putting the burden on
the Chinese. He thought it proper for the
members of the Board to place themselves
right on the record as using every possible
means to prevent the spread Of the disease.
On motion of Dr. Simpson the following
resolutions were adopted:
Reso,red That the Health Officer be authorized to
employ the necessary number OF persons to fum-
gate aud disnfect Chinatown for the purpose Of
preventing the further extension of small pox.
Resoiced That the Chief of Police be requested
to furnish the necessary number of officers to en-
able the Health Inspectors and fumigators to gain
access to all parts of Chinatown.
ReSoired That the Chinese Consul be requested
to use his influence among the Chinese by inducing
them TO report all Of smallpox Immediately
their occurrence and thus aid the Health Officer
in his efforts to dislnfect Chinatown and stamp out
the epidemic of smallpox propagated and continued
by their criminal careessness heretofore in not re-
porting such cases to the health authorities.