The times., 1899-11-05
THE SMALLPOX SITUATION.
District Health omciaIs No Longe
Fear an Epidemic


The smallpox situation remains m
changed. The two patients confined at the
smallpox hospital were reported to be doing
well al a late hour last night, and from
the surgeons latest diagnosis of their con-
dition il appears that both have the disease
in a very mild form. The Health Office Of
hcials are disposed to congratulate them
selves on the prompt manner in which they
have dealt with and stamped out the di=-
ease since its outbreak October 25. The
house which was infected was closed as
soon as the discovery Of the disease was
made. and they have never relaxed their
precautions against its spread. The quar-
antine period is now about half expired
and it is said that the inmates of the house
are in 10 danger Of becoming infected
From the indications at present the health
officials DO not think any Of these persons
Will be taken with the disease. and they
have not infested anyone else. 1t requires
nine days for the disease to develop, il s
said, and il has been much longer than
that since the infected premises were
closed. The suspects confined at the de-
tention camp are said to be in excellent
health. The only fault they have to find
with their forced imprisonment is that th
have few amusements with which 10 pass
the time. They are inspected every day by
I the surgeon in charge, and rigid eXa-Li-
nation is made of every part of their bodies
in order that the authorities may be sure
that there are no signs of smallpox.
Acting Health Officer Mclean, who has
had charge OF the details of the small
+ pox inspection and the precautions taken
. against its spread, was quite amused d
few days ago over letter he received from
. ~
house where smallpox was discovered.
Shaw fed from Washington as soon as he
found his boarding house infected. The
Health Office people knew that the young
man had gone to his home in Virginia,
and as soon as they could they notified the
Virginia State health authorities OF the
young mans whereabouts and the reason
for his flight. Mclean waited patiently
10 hear from the Virginia officials but no
( reply came 10 his letter Early in the week
/ however, he received letter from the
young man himself, in which he requested
/ the District Health Office to furnish him
/ information as TO what ne should do. He
! said that as soon as he had seen the small
1 pOx sign on his house he consulted physi-
! clan, and the latter advised him to go
away. He did go, but was afraid to show
( himself anywhere for fear OF injecting
/ some one with the disease. He enquired
. as TO the methods pursued by the Health
Office, and said that he did not know he
was violating the law by going away. He
+ expressed a willingness to return, however,
and wanted to know the way to the Health
Office and what he should do after he
. arrived in the city. Mr.. Mclean delayed
writing TO the suspect for few days. hop
ing TO hear from the State officials He ex-
pected them to take charge OF the case,
for it was out OF his jurisdiction After
waiting three days Mr.. Mclean was about
TO write again to the State authorities,
when he received a postal card from Shaw.
The latter told the Health Officer that he
need not trouble himself with sending in
formation regarding his coming to Wash
iugton The people of his town had found
out where he had been and he was now
under their care. Mr.. Mclean stated yes
terday that he had not heard from the
State Board OF Health yet and he does not
know whether they have taken charge OF
the suspect or whether he IS held under
shotgun quarantine in some barn near his
home. The acting health officer stated that
he was very glad TO knew the young man
had been taken care Of however. as the
District was thereby relieved Of the ex-
peuse Of caring for and feeding him.