St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-19
NO CHANCES TAKEN.
DR.. Kilvington Discovers a
Genuine Case Of Small
POx.
The Health Department Re-
moves Four Men to the
Pest House. ~
The Sick Men Said to Have
Visited a Number Of r.
Homes. ~
Df
Heroic Measures Taken Ito
Prevent the Spread Of
the Disease.

DR.. s. S. Kilvington, the commission
er of health, was yesterday treated 10 a
disagreeable surprise. He had just
been congratulating himself OH the
freedom of the city from disease,
when a man walked into the office OF
the health department in the city hall
and inquired for the commissioner.
Fortunately the doctor was alone in
the office. One glance was suffi-
cient to show Kim that the
man was sick, and the evidence
of the dreaded malady smallpox was
plainly visible. DR.. kilvingt0n imme-
deately locked up his Office and queS-
toned the man. He said that his name
was George Bliss, and that his home
was in Chicago. Three weeks ago. IN
company with L. COllinger, Joel Miller,
James Dillon and Samuel Neuman. be
room in one of the blocks near Washing
ton avenue, and commenced to canvass
the city. Their business is enlarg-
ing portraits, and they commenced
house to house canvass for work.
They visited quite number OF resi-
dences and secured considerable work.
Last week Bliss says he commenced to
feel sick. He was troubled with pains
in his head and back, but paid but little
attention TO it, as he thought they would
soon wear off. On Friday, howeyer,the
pain increased and he discovered that
rash had broken out all over his body.
He went to bed and remained in his
room until Sunday, when he felt some
what better, and in company with his
companions he walked around the
re icst txun lor
at meal times. Yesterday morning the
rash had not disappeared and he COM
menceG to feel alarmed. His cOmpan-
ions advised him to consult a physician.
and to get some medicine to cool his
blood. He went to the Office of a we'll
known physician, who at once pro-
nOunced it well-defineG case of small
poX and sent him to the health office.
DR.. KilvingtOn quarantined the man in
his Office and Immediately sent an in
spectOr to nail up the room which had
been occupied by Bliss. The am
bulance was called and Bliss was
at once removed to the pesthouse::
A search was Immediately commenced
for Collinger, Mueller, Dillon and Neu-
man. They were found at 9 o'clock
las night and sent to the smallpox hos
pital in charge of the sanitary inspect
OrS. In the rooms occupied by the
men was found the address of num-
Der of citizens for whom the men were
doing work. Chief of Police Bracket
was notified of the facts, and detailed
number of policemen to act under
the direction of the health officer.
A policeman was sent to quar-
antine each house in which
any of the four men were known to have
visited. The entire medical staff of the
depa, tment was summoned to DIR. Kill.
vington'S Office last night for cOnsulta-
ton. 1t was at once resolved that heroic
treatment was absolutely necessary to
prevent the spread of the loathsome dis
ease. Each physician was assigned to
certain houses, with orders to have the
inspectors fumigate the premises which
had been exposed, and to vaccinate all
the inmates at once. The policemen
were instructed to see that strict quar-
antine of the houses they were sent to
was observed, and that no one was per-
mitted to enter or to leave the premises
until they were relieved from duty by
one of the medical officers Of the health
department.
DR.. KilvingtOn was very busy man
last night. He was found by GLOBE
reporter experimenting the fumigatiOn
of house on First avenue south. ''You
can't come in, old man, was his greet
ing as he gently pushed the scribe out
men to the pest house, and the depart
ment is doing all it can to pre-
vent the spread of disease. l
know it is not pleasant for the
people : who live in the houses
to have us come in and fumigate them,
but it is an absolute necessity. Fort
unately we have discovered the disease
before it has had chance to spread. The
only trouble is that there is no telling
where these fellows have been, and l
Will consider it personal favor if the
people who have been called on by the
men who were engaged in enlarging
portraits will notify the health office at
once"
SIS there any danger of an epidemic?"
was asked.
"That we cannot tell. We cannot af-
ford to take any chances. We may not
have another case. and we may have
thousands of cases. We are now going
on the theory that an ounce of preven-
ton is worth a pound of cure. This
would be very bad season of the year
for smallpox to obtain foothold here,
and we are determined, if possible. to
stamp out and exterminate any germs
of the disease which we may find. These
men have been to great many homes
in Minneapolis. and consequently, a
great many persons have been exposed
to the cOntagiOn. If the people who
have had these men call at their homes
let us know of it, we will take all the
precautions known to science to protect
them. While the fact that there is dam
ger from the disease cannot be disputed,
l wish to say that there is positively no
necessity for smallpox scare"