Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-27
Indications That the Smallpox Has
Run Its First Course.
ONLY Two SUSPECTS REPORTED TODAY
The Patients at the Hospital All
Doing Well.
FUMIGATING BUHDIN GS


few more cases reported for several days
to come. 1t is possible that then there will
be more cases Of people who were affected
by those now In hospital
Owing to the general vaccination going
on and the strict measures taken by the
authorities there is thought to be no danger
of any widely extended epidemic. Up to a
late hour today there were no new actual
cases of the disease reported. News of two
suspicious cases came to the health office
and DIR. Beall is investigating these. The
total of certain cases, therefore. remains
the same as yesterday, with two deaths and
six in the hospital
Quiet at the Health Office.
This morning at the health office there
was a calm following the storm OF several
days, and the early morning callers were
not so numerous as they have been each
morning since Monday. Later in the morn
Ing, however, the number increased, and
almost every caller wanted vaccine points
or information OF some kind concerning the
disease which has caused so much I'M
easiness. Vaccine points were as much
In demand as they have been at any time
since the appearance OF the disease was
made known.
Some OF the applicants thought the Dis
trict should furnish the points free. while
able to get them at the drug stores But
the health office officials had been notified
OF the receipt at several drug stores of
large supplies of the points, and those who
applied for them were directed to the stores
where 1t was known the supplies bad been
received.
Word was received from the hospital that
the patients were doing as well as could be
expected.
Health Oficer Woodward was pleased
with the outlook this morning, and, although
there were no new cases reported at an
early hour the efforts of his assistants to
prevent any further spread OF the disease
will be continued. The health officer is go
ing to the extreme In the treatment of those
who have come in contact with the small
pox. One of the clerks who wanted to go
to New York. after he had gone. through
treatment calculated to kill the germs of
anything was advised against going. Should
any Of these people go away the authorities
Of the place where they go VIII be notified
selves living at quarantine station before
they return.
Speaking to reporter this morning
Health Officer Woodward said that the
number of groundless rumors ahoat were
causing much alarm. Especially Is this the
case where there are chicken poX cases.
This diesase Is not Considered dangerous,
and frequently IL happens that the patients
do not even have to go to bed. While there
are cases OF smallpox in the city, Dr. Wood
ward said that physicians In attendance
upon chicken pox cases might greatly as
sist the office If they will send a confiden-
tial communication to the Office concerning
them.
Cannot BE Removed.
Although The Star has printed the law
on the subject of smallpox there seems to
be a general understanding that the health
officer mas power to remove n patient from
his or her own home to the hospital, no
matter whether nh{ooffov, fo
But as heretofore printed, such is not the
case. The Jaw gives the health officer the
power TO remove persons from lodging or
boarding houses, tenement houses and
1oteis. In the case of Judge Rucker. Health
Officer Woodward exercised his right under
protest and removed the patient to the
hospital
Pennsylvania's Regulations.
Health Officer Woodward has received a
copy Of a medical journal which contains a
copy OF the order recently issued by the
state board Of health of Pennsylvania, CIV
Ing In detail the precautions against small
pox- smallpox (variola) and the varioloid,"
says the order, ARE one and the same dis
ease. caused by the same conta GUM. Varlo-
loid Is less severe and rarely fatal because
the system OF the patient had been modified
py vaccination, but IL Is just as capable of
itself. or of being caught
or TAKEN as smallpox. 1t demands there
fore. the same preventive precautions
vaccination Is, of course. the one and
only preventive Fortuna ely, the people of
this commonwealth are so generally we'll
and intelligent that there is no
reason to apprehend repetition of the dis
graceful scenes OF riot and bloodshed which
nave In late years been enacted In q neigh
boring country In the ignorant attempt to
thwart the efforts of the health authorities
TO check the spread of this pestilence But
carelessness and neglect may reap as bane-
n mi nal No.,
WINGED OF this. the board, at its very first
meeting, passed q resolution instructing the
secretary to prepare a circular warning the
Next to the rising OF the sun, nothing is
more absolutely certain than the fact that
vaccination, with reliable lymph, repeated
with SUFFICIENT frequency. is a sure preven-
tive against smallpox. And the fact next
In order Of positiveness IS that careful vac
cination with pure lymph will convey to a
person susceptible of smallpox the vaccine
disease. or cowpox, and no other disease.
Hence, hrst 1t Is important that vaccina-
ton should be performed by an educated
physician, In order to be assured that the
lymph used is pure and reliable, especially
u taken from a human being (humanized
lymph), and that the vaccination has thor
oushly taken. Secondly, If bovine Oheifer)
lymph is preferred. 1t should be obtained
From an entirely reliable source. In order
that 1t may be tfirsD free from all impuri-
ties. and (secondly) active and efficient"
The order advises the vaccination Of in
fants three months old and a child before
its twelfth year 10 cached. Following this
the order treats In detail how the patient
should be cared for, and gives some valu-
hble Information regarding the manner Of
keeping tho sick room In a sanitary condi-
ton, the handling Of linens and advises the
Of adults every twelfth year.
Fumigating the Department.
The patent ONCE building and the census
office are closed and undergoing fumigation
The regular watch force and a corps Of la
borers are on duty at the former place and a
contingent Of physicians. drawn from the
pension ONCE, are there to vaccinate all the
enpioyos of the department who may pre-
sent themselves. The officials have an
bounced that all clerks must be vaccinated
before returning to work. large number
have undergone the operation today end the
process will be continued tomorrow and
Monday. or until all have been served with
the virus. All the offices have been lighted
up with sulphur and the doors closed. and
all the hooks and crannies Of the building,
excepting the Railways. are blue and cloudy
with the sulphurous vapor. The smell,
though, Is coming through cracks and key
holes and permeating the corridors. The
work Of dis.nfection will be continued up to
Monday morning, when the department will
be opened up for regular business. The
leave Of twelve days applies only TO those
clerks and officials who were brought In
direct contact with those In the infected law