The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-07
GAVE CHICAGO ADVICE
State Board of Health Returns
from a Smallpox Inspection.
Members Do Not Like Adverse Criti-
cisms of Chicago Newspapers
House to House Plan.

DIR. L. L. Whitesides, DR.. John N TAYLOR
and DR.. c. n. Metcalf, who were in Chi
cago most of last week as a committee
from the Indiana State Board of Health
to investigate the smallpox epidemic, CON
cluded that the safest and best way to
make public the result of their inquiry was
by a formal report for publication Their
report TO the board will probably be more
comprehensive, but the substance of what
they learned is given in the matter pub
lished below. The members of the COM
mittee feared. possibly, that, owing to the
adverse criticism of Chicago papers on
their visit, they might say things which
were better unsaid. Then, too, it is so
easy in the case of q smallpox epidemic
to start an unnecessary scare, and they
felt as if they should weigh their words
carefully. Following is the report pre-
pared yesterday for publication, and which
is signed by the three members Of the COM
mittee above named:
"Our visit to Chicago was for the pur-
pose of ascertaining all that was known
of the epidemic of SMALLPOX now prevailing
there We wished to know the extent of
the infection and what means of preven-
ton were being used
Our errand is accomplished; and we are
now in possession of the desired informa-
ton, though we did not escape the censure
of certain newspapers which seemed to re-
gard us as having presumed too much in
coming there to scrutinize the methods en-
ployed by the great city of Chicago in deal
ing with an epidemic of smallpox.
Said newspapers were evidently unaware
of the fact that the general conference of
boards of Health of the United States, the
dominion of Canada and the republic of
Mexico, at its session in 1885, passed q
resolution providing for a system of inter
communication and visitation, in pursuance
of which, in case of epidemic invasion OF
fhaa rr AfNl
sented, notification thereof should be sent
by the health authority having charge to
all other represented boards, and such
boards might send inspectors to the scene
of invasion, whether invited to do so or
not, without mourning the danger of being
regarded interlopers.
our visit was, for a time, rendered a
little unpleasant by certain structures sup
posed to have been passed upon our visit
by DR.. Quine, the president OF the Illinois
state Board OF Health but we were as
sured by Dr. Scott, the secretary of the
board, upon the authority of his chief that
no such words had been uttered, and fur
ther acquaintance with DR.. Quine helped to
d1ssipate the impression we had received
from the supposed interview.
before going to Chicago we received a
telegram from DR.. Probst, secretary of the
Ohio State Board of Health, asking us to
meet DR. Scott. of the Illinois board Dr.
Wngate, of the Wisconsin board. and him
self at the above city for conference upon
the very matter which we were about to in
vestigate.
are
always seriously menaced when Chicago
has an epidemic of any proportions as is
obvious on glancing, at railroad map of
the States mentioned. The reports we had
received showed that cases of smallpox
traceable TO Chicago had appeared in Ger
tain other localities in Illinois, in Indiana
and Ohio, New York. Wisconsin, Mime
sofa, Iowa and in certain of the Southern
States, while a steady increase in the num-
Der Of cases in Chicago was also shown
2S4 cases and ninety-seven points of infec-
lions being reported in February.
1--WE also suggested to the authorities
that they make a house to house inspection
of the infected districts Especially in lodg-
ing and boarding hOuses), and persons
found suffering from the disease should at
once be removed to the smallpox hospital
and those exposed should be removed TO a
detention hospital. and there kept until the
period of incubation is passed: and that
such houses infected should be disin-
fected in accordance with the methods APP
proved by the several State boards OF health
and the Hospital Marine Service, and which
had been successfully employed in Indiana
and Ohio. We learned before leaving Chi
cago that they had already begun this
work"