The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-29

anu DIdSts ol tHe ulStuSe.
COmmissioner-Wha are the
DERIVED FROM THE PA
TIENTs CONDITION?
DR.. Menger-As a rule, if the pustules are
distinct, the progress of the disease regular
and the subject be healthy, convalesence may
be expected, but If the fever assumes the
character of typhoid, the patient is delrious,
the postules. fiat, and livid, Interpreted with
petcehia, the rash suddenly disappears, the
swelling subsidies, there lisa sudden inchease of
pulse, with difficult breathing, or the disease
is complicated with those of the brain, throat,
larynX, lungs or almentary canal, the person
so suffering is in danger of death. In the con-
fluent state, the patient is very susceptible to
complication. The fate of the patient is usually
decided between the eleventh and fifteenth
day.
Commissioner,wha is the cause of the
disease?
DR.. Menger-It is occasioned by a specific
poison emanating from diseased person or
his clot hes, or introduced into the system by
innOculatiOn with various matter, or applica-
ton of the dried Scab. Fright has a tendency
to make persons susceptible to the desease.
Commissioner-How is the disease COM
inundated?
DIR. Menger-It is communicated by contact
or through the air, by the living and dead
body, by dried scabs and substances contami-
mated with various matter Ii has not been
clearly aScertained when the patient is first
capable of communicating the disease, nor is
the precise time known when he ceases to be
dangerous. may say that II is rarely known
to attack the same person a. second time.
COmmissioner-Is there any means of pre-
venting the pitting of smallpox?
DIR. Menger-I do not think there is, for the
reason that the cutice of the skin is affected by
the disease. This is also the opinion of eminent
medical writers, among others. DR.. Hebra, but
there are some writer's who assert that it can be
prevented; first, by protecting the parts from
air and painting it with collodon and castor oil,
and second, by puncturing the developed
vesicle with fine needle and absorbing their
contents with cotton wool.
Commissioner
HOW MANY CASES ARE NOW KNOWN
to you and are under treatment?
DR.. Menger-There are five cases. one at the
Sunset depot, the conductor who arrived from
Eagle Pass, and who now lies i'm the caboose
there; two, colored man and woman, who are
down with ''variOla diScreta" at the peSt-hOuse;
a colOred boy, aged 49, who is at house on
Rock quarry road, who has variOla cOntiuens
and is in a dangerous condition, and an old
negress, who suffers from yariOlOd at house
near Garden and Nueces street This latter
case has only just been discovered, and the
patient is in a state of dissecatiOn, i. e., final
state of the disease and is doing well. She in
forms me that she had the same disease i'm 1871,
when, at that time, she resided in New Orleans.
The dwellings of those who are not ut the pest
house are isolated, the yellow flag put up and
they are guarded.
Commissioner the two fatal cases re-
ported, what was the cause of death?
DR.. Menger-In the first case, that of a white
man, the smallpox was complicated with heart
disease. He was delirOus and had to be put
into straight jacket for two days and two
nights to prevent him getting out of the win
dow. Poor Grandjean died from variola con-
tuens, complicated with pneumonia.
COmmisSiOner-Wha preparations have been
made for treatment of the infected persons?
DR.. Menger-They are now treated, at what
is called
THE PEST HOUSE
which is mile snd q half from the city and is
perfectly isolated and protected. A large tent
has been erected there in which has been
placed good stove. Two of the sisters act as
nurses and colored man is always in atten-
dance to aid them. Neither the inmates nor
nurses are allowed to leave the pest house, and
all the necessity provisions, etc. are taken
there by the police, left at the fence and subse-
quently removed by the colOred servant. In
the fatal cases, the bodies were buried as sonu
after death as possible disinfected, placed in
extra case, and buried sufficiently deep to pre-
vent cOntagiOn. No person was allowed to fol
low the remains to the grave. The tent has
been found to be much better than the house
for all purpose, but There Should be hospital
for infectious diseases alone. have long advo-
Gated this i'll vain, but now an hospital is to
be built. 1t is to be substantial building,
haying separate apartments for males females,
and the nurses. The houses where infected
persons were have been fumigated and disin-
fected.
CommissiOner-Wh in your opinion should
now be dOneI
r.Menger-Every person attacked should be
promptly removed to the pest house, or so
isolated as to prevent possible cOntagiOn. If
he consents to be removed or it is thought
necessary to remove him, then the house
wherein he lived and its contents should be
thoroughly fumigated with sulphur and dis
infected. As we know that smallpox is pre-
valent in many other cities, | should be dis
posed to recOPmend quarantine in certain
cases, but railway officials and the police
should use their endeavOrs to prevent Il
further introduction of the disease.
Commissioner-Wha is your opinion as to
the present aspect and prospect of the
disease as far as this CITY is sOncernedY
At present. | see no cause for alarm or
reason to suppose that any epidemic will oc-
cur, but the city should be watchful. All the
cases are distinctly traced, with the exception
of the injected conductor who came from
Eagle Pass, as resulting from the same source
of contamination. All were employed at one
place. The only difficulty is to prevent further
and this | am in hopes has been
done.
Commissioner
DO you RECOMMEND vACCINATION?
Menger-Most decidedly. As soon as there
was any suspicion of an outbreak here, |
ordered large supply of vaccine for the city's
use from a reliable house. Other physicians
and chemists have done the same thing, and a
large number of people have already been
Yaccinated. There is no doubt about the adj
vantages OF vaccination. If it does not abso-
lutely prevent an attack of smallpox il re-
duces the severity of the disease and gives pub
lie confidence.
COmmssiOner-Wha are your experiences of
the smallpox
EPIDEMIC OF 1872?
DR.. Menger-I had sufficient occasion to study
the matter and kept official records concerning
every case in or outside of the city. 1t first
started, II seems, among Il Mexican family
living on Laredo street, at time when in
lection OF several localities must have taken
place before three cases were reported. In
fact, the first cases ever heard of before that
time were reported to me as cOrpSes of two
XlpHn children who a Wv af f.all