Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-07
A VACCINATION NOTICE
Health Officer Hammett Calls Attention
to Smallpox Regulations.
He Advises That All Persons BE Vac
ctnntcd II nm Interval of Five
Years Have Elapsed

Health Officer Hammett today ISSUED the
following official notice:
ITO the people of the District of Column
bia: 1t having come to the knowledge Of
the health officer of the District of Columbia
that smallpox is prevailing in various cities
and other localities Of the country and that
ly nearing. 1t becomes my duty. for the pro-
lection Of the public health. to publish the
following rules and regulations in regard to
smallpox:
The Disease.
"The essential nature of smallpox is to
diffuse itself. and, under certain favorable
conditions. It Is not only communicable
from person to person. but capable Of be-
ing transported to great distances. To pre-
vent the propagation Of the specific poison
your attention is called to the following
regulations adopted by this department:
Vaccination.
Parents and guardians shall cause their
children and wards to be vaccinated before
they attain the age Of two years and re-
vaccinated whenever the health officer
shall. after five years from the last vacci-
nation, require 1t. The health officer ad-
vises the vaccination of all the Inhabitants
of the District OF Columbia, and, whenever
In his opinion, the public health demands
II. the revaccination of all persons who do
not furnish satisfactory evidence that they
have been successfully vaccinated or re-
vaccinated within five years. This depart
ment will furnish the means Of vaccination
10 such persons as are unable to pay for
the same. For this purpose the physicians
to the poor will be directed to yaccinate
the poor gratuitously, and whenever the
exigency requires 1t.
Principals Of incorporated manufacturing
companies. superintendents of aims houses
reform and Industrial schools, lunatic asy-
lums and Of all other charities where the
poor and sick are received masters Of
houses or correction. jailsrs, keepers Of
prisons and directors or officers of all insti-
buttons supported or aided by the District
OF Columbia shall, at the expense of their
respective corporations or institutions
cause all inmates thereof to be vaccinated
Immediately upon their admission thereto
unless they produce sufficient evidence of
previous successful vaccination having TAX
en- place within five years. / most respect-
fully ask cheerful compliance with the
regulations in order to avoid, SO far as
possible. an epidemic in our city"
supply of Vaccine.
Health Officer Hammett is now purchas
Ing vaccine points by the wholesale, and
the physicians to the poor are earning their
salaries in an endeavor to protect the
school children from the smallpox, which
Is prevalent in other cities just now. This
morning the physicians to the poor were at
the health office to get their supply of vac
cine points and hear further instructions
concerning their duty toward school chill
dren.
In this connection DIR. Hammett addressed
| to each physician to the poor copy of
the following:
You will proceed to vaccinate all poor
persons in your district entitled to gratui-
tous vaccination. Enclosed you will lind
your authority for visiting the public
schools for ascertainment of the children
who should be vaccinated or revaccnated
under the regulations. Whenever you find
pupils unprotected. whose parents are TOO
poor to bear the expense, you are directed
to obtain vaccine points from this Office
and perform the service without charge
You are also instructed to make weekly
reports to the health department OF the
number of vaccinations made and the num-
Der OF children found in schools who have
not been vaccinated or revaccinated giving
location OF school and names OF such chill
dren'
Names of school Children
This order. however, did not meet with
the approval Of the school authorities who
understood how the appearance Of the ply
sicians at the schools might cause alarm
and humiliate the children whose parents
are unable to pay for their vaccination. In
consideration of these facts. the order was
Immediately recalled, and the school super
intendents will furnish the names of the
poor children. as well as those Of others
who require vaccination or revaccina ton.
Complaint is made on part OF some citi-
Zens concerning the charges made by doc
tors for vaccinating children. Under the
rules of the Medical Society the charge for
vaccinating Is from 50 to S.. so a member
Of the society told q Star reporter this
morning. While he thought that the charge
mentioned was eX0rbitant, he said that a
member OF the society who does the work
for less Is likely to be hauled up on charges
But he said he knew OF some OF the doc
tors who were instrumental in making the
rule charging only 81.
| The points cost about 10 cents each at
retail, and II requires not more than five
minutes to do the work. This particular
physician thought 81 would be good pay for
each vaccination. Indeed. he said 1t is not
necessary for physician to do the vac
cinating. 1t Is very easy thing to do, and
children's parents may do 1t as wen as a
doctor.