Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-10-28
EIGHTH Ward CITIZENS
Accuse the Health Department Of
Negligence in Smallpox Cases.
A Special Meeting Of Council to be
Called, at Which a Committee Of
Citizens will Present Their Griev-
ances, and Urge More Stringent
Measures

In response to the published call,
about one hundred of the representative
citizens of the Eighth ward held a
meeting at Handlans hall corner Thir-
ty-sixth and Jacob streets, yesterday
afternoon, for the purpose Of considering
the smallpox situation IN that section
Of the city, and ventilatng the rumors
Of negligence on the part of the health
authorities. The meeting was called to
order by ex-Councilman Chas. Morning
star
After the objects of the meeting had
been explained, DR.. J. w. Mccoy took
the floor, and spoke at length, urging
vaccination as tine only certain preyen-
tatiye of smallpox. He did know Of a
single well authenticated case in which
the disease had been contracted when
the pac;ent had been properly VAGINA
ted. He Thought it was useless to try
10 do anything with the Health Officer,
since that Official did not have the law
to back him up in any further efforts
than he has been making, to stamp out
the disease. The people were excited,
but If every person would be v2cc!nated
She disease would soon disappear
The Custer case was mentioned in the
meeting, and was fully discussed. Mr.
Alb. Drum, who was one of the guards
on duty at the house, stated that the
guards were removed after burial Of
the patient. Councilman Williams
stated that he made an investigation Of
the circumstances in connection with
this case. and was told by the Health
Officer that he (Dr. JepsOn) has granted
Mrs. Custer a permit to visit her
friends. conditioned upon her taking a
good bath and making an entire change
Of wearing apparel. He learned sub
sequently that the Custer house had
been broken into. and pictures and 9TH
err articles carried away by neighbors
Councilman Williams and Hahne both
asserted that the Health Omcer was
guilty Of negligence.
l. was stated that IN the KratZ case.
on Sou Jacob street, a member OF
the family has frequently talked over
the fence with the nurse. and then
walked about town. IL WAS also stated
thar Mr.. Barrett, husband Of another
patient. escaped through a window and
walked 10 a letter box 1T the corner
above the house, probably passing sew
eral persons on the way. Councilman
Williams said he could find no person
who saw this incident but It was stated
that the shutters over the window were
nailed chu+ rhet niqhf
Mr. Norn.ngs-ar left the chair, and
stated that it was apparent that the
Health Officer had been guilty of neg!.-
gerce. He moved that a committee Of
five be appointed to draft resolutions
TO embCiy the views of the citizens Of
the ward. with reference to the conduct
Cf the health department, and urging
more effective measures in the future
Nlr. J. B. Handlan said II was evident
from the statements which had been
made. tAat somebody was at fault. II
was very grave matter, and he sug-
ges-ed that the committee secure all the
Information possible before taking any
action. The Custer case proved chat
one guard was not sufficient and he
favored a request from Council that two
guards be placed On duty at all times
for each case. He spoke Of the inability
to secure a quorum Of the Health Com