Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-15
THE SMALLPOX PATIENT.
He Has Grown Worse and 1t May Re
suit Fatally.

The smallpox patient continues to grow
worse, and at a late hour this afternoon was
lowering between life and death. According
to a dispatch from Marlboro 1t was stated
that DIR. Clark. the surgeon in charge of
the Washington and Chesapeake Beach rail-
road. had certified that Nelson was suffering
from poison oak, and that there were at
least forty other workmen similarly affect
ed. A reporter OF The Star visited the
grounds adjacent to the smallpox hospital
this afternoon and talked with DR.. hewitt
from a distance. He said it was foolishness
to say that the man whom he has confined
in the smallpox hospital Is suffering from
any vegetable poison. 1t is case of the
smallpox of the most malignant type. DIR.
Osmun, the physician OF the health office
who looks after the contagious diseases in
the city, visited the hospital yesterday
afternoon to see the patient. He pro-
nounced it case of smallpox at once.
In Case He Dies.
As the patient continues to grow worse
the question arises what will become of him
in case he dies. The health authorities will
not allow the body to be removed for fear
of spreading the disease, and In all proba-
bility the body win be buried in the small
pox grave yard. which occupies one end of
potter's field 1t will be thoroughly saturat-
ed however, with bi-chloride solution to
kill all germs, before it is inferred.
DR.. hewitt found in the pocket of Nelson
the following note:
CHESAPEAKE BEACH, May 1O.1s94.
ITO Whom 1t May Concern:
This is to certify that Charles Nelson,
colored laborer of the Washington and
Chesapeake Beach railroad. is suffering
from an attack of poison oak and wishes to
go to his home in Alexandria, Va.
DIR. H. CLARK, Surgeon in Charge"
|. Communication With DIR. Clark.
As soon as the Commissioners learned
of this they sent at once for Health Officer
Hammett and directed him to communicate
at once with DIR. Clark and notify him Of
the nature of Nelson's disease and caution
him to use the utmost precaution to pre-
vent any of the men who are similarly af
fected from leaving camp.
As stated heretofore in The Star, the Com
missioners have called upon the emergency
fund and are using every endeavor to pre-
vent the spread OF the disease. 1t Is be-
lieved by some, however, that within the
next week or ten days some new cases
will develop. as Nelson was exposed to a
number Of people before he was carried 10
the hospital. 1t usually takes fourteen days
for the disease to assert itself. and the
health authorities are keeping strict look
out in the densely populated alleys where
the disease would be most likely to break
out.
This morning a large quantity Of drugs
and supplies were sent to the smallpox hos
pital. and everything is being done to make
the patient comfortable.
Possibly Another Case.
A report was made to the health officer
this afternoon that L colored man, named
Philip Bliss. livirg in Green's court, had
been sick for three or four days, and it
vas believed that it was a case of small
pox. A physician to the poor will be sent
to make an examination, and ascertain ex-
irg.