The evening world., 1894-05-29
CAN'T PUNISH THE DOCTORS.
Fourth Ward Physicians Didn't
Intend to Conceal Small Po1.
Seven New Cases Discovered by the
Health Authorities.

While the circumstance seem to indi-
cate that the physicians who attended
the concealed cases Of smallpox in the
lower end OF the Fourth Ward about
two weeks age, are guilty OF gross neg
~ligence, aud are in a great measure re-
sponsible for the spread Of the contagion
in that n~eighborhood. Or. Doty. Chief Of
the Bureau OF Contagious Diseases, de-
clares that the Board OF Health is pow
erless in the matter OF Furnishing the Of
tenders.
The physicians, Or. Doty declares. are
only technically guilty OF a violation Of
the law. and therefore any attempt to
criminally prosecute them would un-
The several physicians who were sum
moned before the Board OF Health to
explain why they had failed to report
smallpox cases Tor which tney ,hhai
they we're uncertain as to the nature Of
OF the disease. They all declared that
they had only been called once before the
ton was left, which was filled at some
nearby drug store by some relative Of
the patient. and perhaps no other visit
was ever made by any physician to the
The accused physicians also pleaded
that there was no object for them to
attempt to conceal the facts from the
Board of Health. as the people we're In
variably very poor and unable. as a rule,
10 even pay for the medicine prescribed,
much less the professional services.
rstai by he discovery Of several conva-
descent patients who had beer treated
and nursed by. members Of the family
during the period OF infection, without
the same tenement. In that way the
disease was spread 10 numerous families.
Had II not been for a house-tQ-house
canvass. both day and night. by Health
with which cases developed In the lower
end Of the ward, there would ~undouhted-
ly have been an alarming outbreak OF
The disease, and scores Of patients
where there are now comparatively few
Notwithstanding the especial precau-
tons exercised by the health officials,
cases continue to crop out in the yicin,
tcnements down along the river-front
towards Battery Park. But the disease,
DIR. Doty feels assured, will not become
any considerable spread, as the ward Is
kept under the closest surveillance by
an increased CORPS OF inspectors.
found. One of the patients, Minnie
Kuger. twcnty-one years old, Of sc James
street. walked into the Bureau of Con-
tagious Diseases during the afternoon
and said she feared she had smallpox.
pened to be passing and The patient was
removed to the Reception Hospital.
Very luckily the crowds of people who
visit the Bureau daily to have their
children vaccinated had thinned down
to a half dozen or less. none OF whom.
II was found, had come In contact with
the infected visitor. However. the build,
ing was disinfected as soon as the pa
tient vas removed.
Other cases sent to North Brother Isl
and were Charles Englehardt, thirty-si,
.yan ~ All ~ 90 DarL Pnur Uhn WA
taken from Bellevue Hospital. where III
had gone for treatment; John Lavery
twenty-five years old. of 90 Oak street
and Joseph Lampson. twenty-five year
old, from the New York Dispenssry. ant
Amerigo C~aponingro, nineteen years old
Of 81 Addison street.