Evening star., 1896-12-03
Diphtheria Patients Roam Around the
Streets at Will.
)R. WOODWARD STRICKEN DOWN
Small Panic Today at the District
Building.
G E r M S IN OTTLE E S

Health Officer Woodward has a mild case
OF diphtheria, and Is confined to his home.
This will necessitate his absence from office
for some time, during which time Deputy
Health Officer Mclean will be in charge.
During the time the diphtheria has Teen
causing the scare DR.. Woodward has been
exposed to the disease, and it is thought
that he contracted it in the Office, and not
in his private practice. There was a gen.
uine scare in the District building; late yes
terday afternoon when a diphtheria patient
called to see the health officials and make
inquiries about her case She was George
jackson, colored, who lives at No. 20 Mas
sachusetts avenue and with her was
colored companion. The culture taken from
her throat had proved to be d,phtherla, and
during the afternoon DIR. Boss called ct the
house and put up the blue placard. George
was not at home when he called and when
she learned of what had taken place at her
home she hastened to the health office,
reaching there before Dr. Boss She was at
work when the doctor was at her house,
and she was anxious to learn why the card
was put up.
Her story was a pitiful one. She was at
work earning food for her little brothers
and sisters, and if she had to remain away
she did not know from where they would
get food This, however, was no excuse for
her appearing in public, and she was warn
ed that unless she remained in quarantine
she would be arrested. If necessary, the
District will provide food for the family.
GeorSle had reached the top floor in the
elevator, but on the downward journey she
had to walk, and her frieEd walked with
her. There were seven cases reuorted yes-
terday and in three of them the patients
We're in the street or out visiting when the
health officials called. There was one case,
that OF a colored girl. eight years old, report
ed from Schott's alley, on Capitol Hill where
scores of colored people and Italians live
When her house was visited she was over
in Bassetts alley visiting friends In this
ailes al great many people also live and it
is feared that she has spread the diphtheria
germ in both places, SO that a number of
cases from them may follow.
Inc doctors are complaining abou. the
careicssness or SO many of the affected
persons who fail to remain at home when
they are sick, and it is thought that some
prosecutions may eventually follow Yes
teruay experience has impressed upon the
nealtn o1flc lalS once more the necessity for
the establishment of a general contas.io,1s
disease hospital and quarantine station.
1t Is hoped that the present Congress will
pass the pending bill regulating contapious
diseases and provide funds for the pro-
posed quarantine station and contagiou
disease hospital. With the necessary hi s.
pital and law the authorities could then
take charge of patients found on the streets
and compe! them to undergo treatment Five
new cases We're reported this morning but
at the health office 1t was stated that no
Scnool building has any number of cases
at present.
Fear nm Epidemic.
There is CONSERVATION among the clerks
at the District building, and 1t is under
stcod memorial is in preparation to be
presented to the Commissioners urging the
removal Of the archaeological laboratory
to some place other than the District build
ing.
1t is feared that an epidemic of diph-
liberia will break out in the building, be-
cause of the presence of the department
where all suspected cases Of diphtheria are
examined mcroScopically.
Up on the sixth floor Of the Commission
ers' office, In small room adjoining the
health department, the District bacteriolo-
gist examines by means of a microscope
cultures taken from the throats of all per-
soEs suspected of having diphtheria Mil
lions of germs keep him company all day,
but the doctor makes pets of them and has
no fear of infection. 1t is believed at the
office that the health officer caught diph-
liberia through the close proximity of the
laboratory to his private office. Be this
as it may, there is considerable dread at
the building of the contagion prom
inent clerk in discussing the matter with
a Star reporter said:
1T is a shame that this laboratory is
not divorced from the District building
From what physicians say to me- there
are countless millions of germs floating in
that laboratory ready to pounce upon some
poor unsuspecting and unprotected person
1t is we'll known that the bac.eriologist
has not the proper appliances. although
every one agrees that he is perfectly COM
petent and does all in his power to pre-
vent the spread of the disease. Take this
Illustration as an instance. A physician
applies here for a culture tube and gets
one, nicely put up In a pasteboard box.
He makes the culture from the throat Of
the patient and then brings it back to the
District building. Now note this: First
of all, he has subjected himself TO the
germs, and when he visits the health office
is no doubt full of them. The germ. am
told by my medical friends. adheres to
everything 1t touches. How about the
boxes? Don't it seem if they had a
veneering of germs over them They nave
been in the right place to get it. Then
look at the large army of people who visit
the health office every day. The majority
of them nowadays are doctors, many right
from seeing some diphtheria case. Now,
does it not seem strange to you that we
have not already had an epidemic? 1 GER
tainly hope the Commissioners will see the
necessity Of removing the health office
and all its departments to some other
building, where the clerks q least will not
be subjected to disease"
THE FLORIDA SENATORSHIP.