Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-02-17
FALSE ALARM.
A Number of Leading Physicians
Afirm That There is No Cause
for Alarm About small-pox-Drs.
Kurtz. Ross and Gale on the Sub
tect.

For the past three days some very in
judicious journalistic alarms, directed
against probable visitation upon thi
city Of thar noisome plague, smallpox
have been sounded. In view Of the
very depressing effect of such warning
notes, be they never so unfounded, /
HERALD reporter was detailed yesterday
to learn from the gentlemen of the
medical profession whether there existed
any cause whatever for apprehension
DIR. Kurtz was the first one met, and
the reporter accosted him " it'll the ques
ton whether he had read in certain o.
the papers an intimation that small
pox epidemic was to be feared.
DR.. Kurtz--I have seen some mention
of the disease in Tucson, Arizona, and
notice that something is said in certain
of our city papers here on the subject
In my opinion it is very unfortunate
that the word smallpox appeared in
print at all with reference to this city
The city is perfectly healthy, and it
sanitary condition is fair. The most
perfect vigilance prevails, and the prob
abilities of our having any smallpox
here are reduced to minimum.
The doctor stated further that the less
said on the subject to alarm people un.
necessarily the better, as, if any danger
existed, it would then be time for the
public to be made acquainted with it.
The HERALD commissioner next called
upon DR.. w. w. Ross.
Reporter-Doctor, feeling of alarm
is likely to be engendered by the pub
lished reports Of smallpox being prev.
alent in Tucson and that the disease ap.
pears to be moving westward. Do you
believe our people have any cause tor
alarm.
DIR. Ross-Not the slightest. 1t is
well known that the health Of our PEG.
pie is excellent. The city is well kept
and the sanitation good. True, in my
opinion, an improvement, in this re-
gard, might well be made by scraping off
the mud from the streets, which is now
being permitted to dry and infect the
air. But SO far as the probabilities Of
our being afflicted with smallpox cpl
demic are concerned, they are very
There has been some talk of
the prevalence Of smallpox in Las We.
gas, New Mexico, and in Tucson, Ari-
IONA. How much truth there may be
in these rumors cannot say, but this
much l know that, with ordinary pre-
there il no reason for uneasi.
ness. The greater part Of our popula-
ton have been vaccinated, with the ex.
ception of newcomers, and, with proper
vigilance to guard against its importa-
ton here, there is every reason to feel
DR.. Gale, the Health Officer of
the city, was the next physician
ON the subject. DR.
Gale said there was no pos
sible reason to apprehend an
epidemic of the scourge; that every pre-
caution had been taken. He had ad-
vised the physicians, he said, in card
IN yesterday mornings HERALD, to
vaccinate their patients, but that this
was advice he gave apart from and in
iependeutly of the existence of SMALL
pox elsewhere. 1t was proper precau.
lion to take at any time, but more
when the disease is prevailing
even to a limited extent in other local
ties. The doctor said that the drug
stores were well provided with vaccine
points and that other necessary precau-
tionary measures had been taken.
Reporter-Then in your opinion, doc
Tor, the people need feel no uneasiness
IN the subject?
DIR. Gale-The public may rest assur-
ID on that point. Should there be dam
ger, | would let them know of it, but
here is none at present and none is
likely to exist.
Perfectly satisfied with the assurances
If these gentlemen, the HERALD scribe
fought no further interviews, although
n incidental conversation with num-
Der of other physicians, almost without
the above views were en-.
lorsed.