Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-23
ANOTHER SMALLPOX CASE
A Woman Who Washed the Clothes of the
Dad Child.
Prompt Measures Take n to Check che
Further Spread Of the
Diseas

Another case Of smallpox has been dis
covered In the northeastern section of the
city. The new case is that OF Mary Thorn
as, who lives at 243 14th street northeast
and she contracted the disease the same
way that Mary Mundell. the other patient,
did.
Alice Sommerville is the washerwoman Of
the Coston family. and Mary Thomas. her
cousin, has been in the habit of helping her.
During the illness OF Mr.. Coston's child
Mary Thomas did all the washing for the
family and in that way took the disease.
There seems to be little doubt now that the
baby died of true smallpox. although
death certificate was given for continent
varicola.
office this morning he found Dr. Wilder
waiting for him. DR. Wilder stated that he
desired to report a case OF smallpox at 245
'14th street northeast. DIR. WOODWARD al
once hurried to the house In question and
there found Mary Thomas Ill with small
pox.
There was no doubt OF the disease. and
when he learned that she had washed some
of the clothes of the baby who died recently
from a suspicic US eruption his diagnosis
was confirmed, and he at once notified DIR.
hewitt that he would shortly send him an
other patient. After leaving strict instruc-
tons with the family Of the stricken wo-
man not to allow any one to go near her
he reported at once to the Commissioners.
He told them the situation. and said Wig
orous measures were necessary to stamp
out the disease at once before II got a foot
hold. The Commissioners told DR.. Wood
ward to use his cwn discretion, and TO call
upon the emergency fund IL he wanted any
money to prosecute his work. They also
notified DIR. hewitt that the hospital and
everybody connected with IL were directly
responsible to him, and that he could reg
ulate things as he thought proper.
Health Officer Woodward. acting upon In
or nm the Commissioner tmme-
6iately dispatched DIR. O'Malley. who IL an
attache of the health office. to see that the
house OF Mary Thomas was properly fCmi-
gated and that all of the clothing used by
her was destroyed. He also gave notice to
his subordinates that the particular vicinity
In which these two cases OF smallpox were
discovered should be kept under strict sur
vigilance and the slightest suspicious case
reported at once.
The Commissioners appointed, this after
noon, Miss Maggie Pemberton nurse at the
hospital. and authorized the health officer
to employ such other assistants as he
deemed necessary.
Everything vas in readiness at the hos
pital for the new patient when the ambu-
lance arrived this afternoon. She was put
in the same ward with the first patient, and
DIR. hewitt Immediately administered med
ical treatment.
1t was learned this Afternoon that a sister
Of Mary Mundell. the first patient, was
taken SICK and had gone to her home at
Pisgah, Md, which Is about ten miles below
Glymont Health Officer Woodward imme-
diately notified Surgeon General Wyman of
the army, and a search Is now being con-
Quoted for the missing woman.
Speaking of the danger OF an epidemic.
Health officer Woodward said:
while, at this time. IL Is impossible to
tell to what extent we viii have to deal
with smallpox, 1 hardly think II will extend
beyond those already exposed. These are
being isolated as rapidly possible, and
the houses fumigated. A vigorous cam
afpcf iG
carried on, and L look for its complete OBJ
liberation in a short time. There is really
no great cause for alarm, but l would adj
wise those who have not been vaccinated
recently to have ii done at Gree"
At late hour this afternoon both pa
tents at the hospital were doing well, al
though Mary Mundell had suffered con-
siderably during the day with hemorrhage.