Daily Republican., 1881-07-11
MONDAY, JULY IL, 1851.
Precautions to Prevent the Spread
Of Amall,POX.

the smallpox from becoming epidemi
it should be done quickly. There ar
certainly some things that should b
adopted that have not yet been resorte,
to. We are ot members of the Boar'
of Health, neither are we physicians, bu
wedo know that if the reports are true
and that nurses Of smallpox patient:
ara in tie habit OF going ont through
the markets to make purchases it is al
together wrong and should be stopped
bv the Board of Health. Elsewhere
will be found report that boys juml
up on the steps of the smallpox ambu'
lance going out Fourth street and ride
several squares while there are small
pox patients in the inside; also that
the drivers of the ambu ance are in the
habit of stopping and refreshing them
selves at saloons while the ambulance
await their return at the corner of tht
streets. This is inexcusable careless.
ness and should en- no account be sui
fered by the Board Of Health. If re-
ports are half true there has been a
large increase of small.po patients in
the city, especially in the eastern part
during the last week--so many indeed
that it is doubtful if they get sufficient
medical attendance This being the
case the CITY Counc lin connection with
the Board of Health should take the
matter in hand and see that medical at
tendance is provided for families VINO
have not the means of employing it.
We cannot divest our mind of the fact
that many poor soul dies of the
disease who would live if they had
proper and sufficient medical attend
ance. Doctors as a general thing do
not want smallpox patients, and
they have number there is possibil-
ity that those who are able to pay for
attendance would receive the first and
probably the best attention. Then again
unless very great care is exercised there
is danger OF doctors waiting upon
smallpox patients, and then calling
upon patieut> suffering Of OF her diseases,
of spreading the disease In view OF
all these circumstances would it not De
well for the City Council and the Board
OF Health to appoint two, three or four
more if ecessary-Skil.ful doctors, |
whose sole and only duty will be to at
tend smallpox patients, and be paid |
for their services out of the City Trea.
airy.
This is no time to higglc about little |
expense. 1t is question of life and |
death with many, and should be attend !
ed to Immediately. Stringent and at |
the same time humane measures should /
be adopted to circumvent and circum-
scribe the disease which we are told can
be held in check. We do not want tu
create unnecessary alarm in the matter,
but we do mean that the proper author.
tiles shall Immediately take measures
to prevent such acts of carelessnes, as
we have referred to. Let the hospital
wagon be labeled, "Small-pox ambu-
lance, to keep boys from riding on the
steps, and if drivers cannot be found
who cannot drive the ambulance with
out having their skins stuffed with beer
let their beer be provided for them to
drink at the hospital so that thev will
not be compelled to stop as they are
gathering up the patients and spread
The disease in the beer saloons in the
city. Persons could also be appointed
by the Board OF Health to do the mar.
ketlng for families in which there are
cases of small pox without necessitatiny
nurses to reranhulate the markets.
Many humane and perfectly consistent
things could be done that are not yet
done to circumvent the disease and it is
high time now that they were done.