Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-12
A CASE OF SMALLPOX
A Man Who Game Into Town on a
Crowded Train.
Found BY the Health Omcials Sitting
I'm Front OF the Depot-Authori-
ties Taking Precautions.

There Is smallpox In Washington.
Yesterday evening a case was discovered
at the Baltimore and Potomac railroad sta
ton. and the patient removed at once to the
Hospital for Contagious Diseases, back of
the jail.
Shortly after z o'clock Health Officer
Hammett was notified that there was a
suspicious case at the depot. Summoning
DIR. ]. Ramsay hewitt, the physician in
charge of the Contagious Hospital, the two
went to. see the case. Both declared IL a
case Of malignant smallpox in its worst
form. The body was covered with pustules.
some OF which were bursting. The patient
was a colored man named Remus Nelson,
twenty-eight years of age, and a native of
Virginia. When the ply sicians arrived the
man was sitting on the curb on the b street
side Of the depot, surrounded by several DO
licemen, who were doing their utmost to
keep crowd back: He had just arrived
from Pope's Creek, Va. and was on his way
to Freedman's Hospital.
Taken to the Hospital.
DR.. hewitt advised immediate isolation,
and Health Officer Hammett called the
wagon used in, the pound service. and the
man was placed I'm 1t. DR.. hewitt accom-
panied him to the hospital and after plac-
ing him in one Of the isolated wards, called
the nurse. Mr.. Pemberton, and gave strict
Instructions to allow no one to approach
the hospital. DIR. hewitt remained with the
patient ell night His charge was taken
violently i'll about 2 o'clock this morning
ana became delirious. He was a pitiable
sight. His face was covered with the dread
eruption. and his eyes were almost blinded
Three times during the night he called for
assistance, and DIR. hewitt thought he
would die But esch time ne rallied under
stfmulants. add this morning. while still
weak, was much better. DIR. hewitt, however.
mi he No wx-sr1
seri6ed as the worst form of continent
sn ailpox. The worst feature of IL is that
tnere Is no telling how many people have
been exposed.
The Patients Story.
The patient gave the following history of
the case to DR. Nevftt:
Il went to Chicago to see the worlds
fair. and during the early part of April
was arrested for vagrancy. They put me in
dirty cell with a number of other fellows.
one OF them was all broken out and very
sick.
''The doctors said he had smaIlnox and
ofuered All of the prisoners to be yacci-
hateo- was vaccinated along with the rest.
ara II took good. On the 18th of April i
LETT Chicsgo for my home in Virginia. 1
was NOT ieenng weii, and yesterday morn
ing took the train at Pope's Creek for Alex
andria, TO see my mother, who lives there.
When the train reached Alexandria i was
aWfui SICK and determined to come to
washington and go to Freedman's Hos
pltai. where 1 had been before. The car /
was In was crowded and the conductor
looked at me several times. When the
train got in. the policemen took me in
charge and then you came and brought me
out here"
According to the statement Of this man
at least hundred persons have been ex-
posed to the disease. and the health officer
END Id .Sevht have the greatest concern
oS the matter. i stss.-4 60 -. -.
<8eUsnaldays ago Dr. hewitt visited the
hospital and had everything put in shape
Tor the reception OF patients should any
come, and when this case arrived every
thing ives In readiness. = f. -..-s
The Commissioners were informed of the
pr essence of the case this morning by the
health oficer. and Immediately directed him
to use every preeaution to prevent the dis
ease from spreading. The emergency fund
will be used to provide everything neces-
sary.