The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-16
GO GET VACCINATED
State and Local Health Boards
Give This Peremptory Order.
Only Those Who Have Been Successful
ly Vaccinated in Last Seven Years
Exempt-Higgins Improving.

The entire population OF Indianapolis
must submit to the ordeal of vaccination.
The order was given yesterday by the City
Board of Health. To avoid the introduce
ton Of virus into the arm the board must
have conclusive proof that the person has
been vaccinated within the last seven years
and that the operation was successful AT
the special meeting of the city Board of
Health yesterday there were present be-
sides the members, DR.. Metcalf, secretary
Of the State Board of Health and Police
Surgeon Kahlo. The board discussed the
probable dangers of a spread of the plague
and agreed that every precaution should
be taken TO prevent it, Secretary Metcalf,
OF the State board, stated that he was au-
thOrized TO issue the following order to the
local board:
Having been officially informed that
tramp in the first stages of smallpox was
given lodging in the police station in the
city of Indianapolis, Thursday night, April
u, 1884, and that large number of timer
ants slept in the same room with him and,
therefore, were exposed to the contagion of
the disease, and were turned loose upon the
streets Of indianapolis Friday morning be-
fore the true nature of the malady was
discovered, and we are Informed by Su-
perintendent of Police Powell that there is
no way IN which those persons can , be
that, on account of this great exposure,
that your city is in imminent danger.
Therefore, We direct that your board at
once issue an order requiring all persons
within our Jurisdiction, who cannot show
satisfactory proof of successful vaccination
within the past seven years, to be vacci-
mated at once, and take such other meas
ures to prevent it's development and spread
as the situation may demand"
The City Board of Health promptly con-
Cured in the above order, and directed the
publication of the same. The board takes
.-.@I.
the directions, and that 1t will be unneces-
sary to take further steps in this regard.
DIR. Metcalf of the State board, claims that
the laws Of Indiana vest the proper Off
Gals with the power to enforce all orders
looking to the promotion of the public's
health. Patrolmen will be instructed to in
vesdgate the sanitary condition of their
districts and report to the board. The
board further directed the police surgeon 10
thoroughly overhaul the police station and
| TO scour the walls and floors of the build
| ing with an antiseptic solution. This work
was begun yesterday and will be continued
| to-day.
| partments are to be vaccinated immediate
| ly. At roll call last night Police Surgeon
| Kahlo vaccinated twenty-four patrolmen,
and Will complete the work this morning.
The fire department will be next looked
after.
Il
| ton was primarily begun by the city board.
The members discussed the ACCESSIBILITY of
issuing an order of this sort several days
ago, but questioned their authority to take
such STEP The State board was asked
as to the provisions of the statute regard
ing the authority of city when threatened
with an invasion of q plague, and the above
order represents the investigation of the
State body The City Board of Health will
also require teachers In the public schools
| TO look to the interests of their pupils. To-
| day all pupils who have not been vacci-
mated within the last seven years will be
notified that they will not be permitted to
attend school unless they conform with the
general order. The order to vaccinate all
city officials was begun yesterday, when
Richard Herrick barred his arm to the knife
| or the police surgeon. A number of other
empolyeS of the city were vaccinated yes
terday, and the remainder will be subjected
TO the operation to-day. The basement
floors of the courthouse are to be disin-
fected this morning, and the rooms will be
| fumigated tonight AT the conclusion of
the special session yesterday the Board of
Health, through President Hays, issued the
| following notice to the public in addition to
| the statement Of the State Board of Health:
THE City Board of Health and Charities
has received an order from the STATE
1 Board of Health requiring an enforcement
| of the law in reference TO general Vaccina-
| ton. In view of the fact that smallpox
| is prevalent in our city, notice is hereby
| given TO the general public that the Board
| of Health and Charities, acting under
| the State Board of Health
| requires all persons to be vac
| cinated as soon as possible, unless they
can produce satisfactory evidence that they
| have been successfully vaccinated within
| the last seven years. In case any vaccina-
| ton fails to take in persons who have
| never before been vaccnated, then the vac
cination must be repeated at the expiration
| of four days"