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

While the circumstances seem to indi-
cate that the physicians who attended
the conceded cases OF smallpox in tle
lower end OF the Fourth Ward about
TWO weeks ago, are guilty OF gross neg
~ligencc. aud are in a great measure re-
sponsiHle for the spread Of the c%ontagion
In that neighborhood, DIR. Doty, Chief OF
the Bureau Of Contagious Diseases. de-
clares that the Board Of Health Is pow
crless In the matter of furnishing the Of
tenders.
The physicians, DR.. Doty declares, are
only technically guilty Of Il violation of
the law. and therefore any attempt to
criminaliy prosecute them would un-
doubtcdly fail.
The several physicians who were sum
moned before the Board Of Health to
explain why they had failed to report
smallpox cases for which tley had
prescribed stated In every instance that
they were uncertain as to the, nature, OF
they had only been called ony before the
appearance Of any %eruptions. A prescrip-
tion was left, which was filled at some
nearby drug store by some relative. OF
was ever made by any physician to the
patient again.
The accused physicians also pleaded
attempt to conceal the facts from the
Board OF Heath. as the people were In
variably very poor and unable, as a rule.
to even pay for the medicine prescribed,
much less the professional services.
This explanation was partially corrobo-
rated by the discovery Of several oonva,
nnS nur %ysi'e py m Th1 had Of Ses sS. ' ismiiS
during the period Of infection. without
the knowledge OF even other families IN
the same tenement. In that way the
Had II not been for a house-to-house
canvass. both day and night, by Health
Inspectors, prompted by the persistency
end of the ward. there would undoubted-
ly have been an alarming outbreak Of
the disease. and scores Of patients
where there are now comparatively few.
lions exercised by the health officials.
cases continue to crop out in the vicin:
ny OF Cherry Hin and IN the saualld
towards Battery Park: But the disease.
DIR. Doty feels assured. will not become
epidemic, and there need be no fear or
any considerable spread. as the ward Is
kept under the closest surveillance by
an increased corps OF inspectors.
Yesterday there were only five cases
found: One Of the patients Minnie
street. walked Into the Bureau OF Con-
taElous Diseases during the afternoon
and said she feared she had smallpox.
An ambulance very opportunely hap
pened to he 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,
It was found. had come in contact with
the infected visitor. However. the build
ing was disinfeCted as soon as the pa.
tient was removed.
Other cases sent to North Brother Isl.
and were Charles F~nglehardt. thirty-siS
years old Of 2T2 Park Row. who was
taken from Bellevue Hospital. where he
had gone for treatment: John Lavcry
twenty-five years old, of 70 Oak street
and Joseph Lampson. twenty-five years
old. from the New York Dispensary, ant
Amerigo caponingro. nineteen years old
of 81 Madison street.