Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-23
THE SMALLPOX SCANDAL IN SAN
FRANCISCO.

known and highly esteemed, was taken
with smallpox last week. At midnight
after some days of sickness-when the
weather was cold and raw, he was taken in
stumbling, rough-riding, ill-inclosed
wagon to the pest-house, where within a
few hours after arrival he died. This the
Alta pronounees murder" and LAYS the
blame at the door of the Health Depart
ment.
The officers of that depar tment did the
best they could, probably, and acted in the
light they have. 1t has been the custom
to take smallpox patients to the pest
house, which is a scandalous concern, and
they but followed the rule of this custom.
But the whole city government is to
blame. Why is it that a suitable hospital
is not provided? That San Francisco
now has is a disgrace to civilization and
shame to humanity. Why does not the
metropolis Of the coast provide ambulances
of the very best order, with swinging cots
in which patients may be carried with
perfect ease? Why are not ambulances
provided that are bedded, heated, vet
ventilated, and made perfect in all respects?
Why, indeed, is that cold, tumbling ex-
press wagons are used to transport the
feverish sick, who should be handled so
tenderly and so carefully guarded from
cold air?
1t is notable that the attempt to remove
smallpox patients to the pest-house in San
Francisco is being abandoned. Of course.
by such abandonment the epidemic will be
controlled with far greater difficulty, for
sequestration of patients is necessary to
prevent the spread of contagious disease.
But the abandonment in San Francisco is
the result of the just protest of the people
against their loved ones and friends being
taken out for treatment to a building not
fitted for the purpose. 1t is @full
of draughts," heated only by offensive
coal oil stoves, is ill-ventilated, foul as to
drains, devoid of common comforts. and in
every respect unsuited for the housing of
those afflicted with smallpox. 1t is amaz-
ing that in a city renowned for its chart
ties, rich to the hundreds of millions, and
overfowing with philanthropy, such things
can be-
1t becomes terribly serious matter when
one brings 1t home. Let the reader sup
pose his wife, daughter, son or other mem
Der of his household to be stricken with
the dread disease; knowing the condition
of the public smallpox hospital, that re
moyal to it could be had only in such an
ambulance" as San Francisco provides;
that once taken away the care the afflicted
one would be committed wholly TO
strangers, nurses qualified rather by i'm
munity from the disease than skill and
kindness, those Injured, indeed, to human
suffering, and careless to a great degree OF
the plants of the Sictims because bur
dened With the care of two hundred pa
tients; would not es7ery instinct of love
arm him IN resistance against she attempt
of the health officers 10 remove the loved
one? Weuld not he act as die Rev. Mr..
Merrill in Oakland last week, who warned
the officers at their peril to attempt to re-
move his SISTER from his home, and on
their making the attemp4 resisted them
forcibly, and appealing to the law brought
their claim Of authority into such doubt
that they have abandoned TIE effort. and
the reverend gentleman not only ".Aolds
the fort" but has in his resistance the
sympathy of the entire community?
How much better off is Sacramento
county than San Francisco in provision Cor
an epidemic? The smallpox hospital is
probably little better structure than that
of the metropolis; it "a much better sit
uated, but is provision for the care of the
sick when sent there any more generous
or humane? Indeed, we know of those
afflicted having been committed to !
the care of nurses that We gery much /
doubt any one would for a moment enter |
tain the idea of employing to enter his
home. There is no ambulance for transport
tation, and not sufficient readiness for the |
care of the first who may be sent to the |
pest-house. Yet it is certain that it is the |
part of wisdom in the interests of the COM
munity, that smallpox patients should be