The Washington times., 1894-10-26
PROGRESS OF The PLAGUE
continued from First Page.l

ents were at work on the several hundred
clerks there formed in line.
The lady clerks were vaccinated in the
ladies retiring room. Not quite all the en-
ployes were yaccinated yesterday afternoon
and according TO Secretary Smiths order
those who have not been operated upon will
not return TO their desks until the vaccine
points have been inserted.
There is considerable alarm among the
clerks of the Interior Department over the
possible spreading of the smallpox from the
cases of Judge Rucker and Messenger Ander-
son. of the examining board of the Land
Office
1t appears that Judge Rucker handled all
the papers which came from the secretarys
Office TO be certified, and that after they were
certified by the examining board the docu-
ments were again handled by the clerks OF
the several divisions of the Land office. The
documents often lie on the clerks desks for
several days before being put away IN the
files of the office.
1t is claimed by the clerks that in handling
the papers which are to be in the future re-
handled by the clerks, Judge Rucker may
have disseminated the germs OF the dreaded
disease 10 the papers. and thus made it possi-
ble for the employees to carry the germs
away in their clothes. Although the clerks
are protected from the disease by the compul-
sorry vaccination ordered by Secretary Smith
yesterday, vet they fear they may carry
the germs TO their homes, and thus communi-
cate the disease to their families and the
friends with whom they come in contact.
Not only does this affect the clerks and
their families and friends, but il is said there
is great danger to the attorneys, who are COM
PEELED TO examine the papers IN the cases of
which they have chrrge These papers are
handled more carefully by the attorneys than
by the clerks, aud ii is claimed that in thus
handling the papers, which have been exam
ined 10y Judge Rucker, and now must contain
smallpox germs. are liable to be subjected to
an attack of the disease or carry the germs in
their clothes.
More than this. the clerks say. many of
these papers which have been examined by
Judge Rucker will or have been mailed TO dill
ferent parts of the country. and this adds to
the possibility of the spread of the disease
emanating from the Interior Department to
! every State il the Union.
Secretary Smith has ordered the rooms oc-
/ cupied by Judge Rucker TO be thoroughly
1 fumigated, but the clerks say he has evil
IDENTITY overlooked the matter above referred
/ TO. The clerks think tnat for the protection
! Of the persons whom they deal with and their
] families, rs well as the attorneys and other
persons who have business with the Office,
not only every room in the Interior Depart
ment building. but all the papers of the office
should be thoroughly and quickly fumi-
| gated.
DR.. Benjamin Boall. who first attended
Judge Rucker and superintended the fumi-
| eating Of the judges clearinghouse, was
asked by a TIMES reporter last night whether,
/ in his opinion, there was any danger OF a con-
tagion as expressed 10y Interior Department
! clerks.
Il think the clerks need have no fear of
such contagion," :" said he. when the Judge
handled the papers the disease was in its
/ primary stage and the eruption had not yet
! appeared. The best authorities agree that
there is not the slightest danger of a spread of
the disease when it is in the first stages. Not
ease has reached its tertiary stage is there
danger of epidemic. No, do not think the
clerks need be alarmed in the least degree"