Evening star., 1899-02-01
The Health Officers Opinion of Small
pox Situation.
ADDITIONAL CASES MAY Be EXPECTED
Two Suspects Now Under the In
spection Of Experts.
CAUTION RECO NDED

| while We have but three patients in the
District smallpox hospital said DR.. VIM.
{. Woodward, the District health officer, in
| conversation with Star reporter today, ''it
! is, of course, more than likely that We will
have more cases. I should judge that since
the disease broke out in Alexandria a few
weeks ago there have been between forty
| and fifty cases there, and in view of the
very close communication between the two
! cities L can but expect more cases here.
| We have watched the matter very closely
as havs the omcials of the United States
| marine hospital service, but unless the
strictest kind Of a quarsSntine should be es-
| tabiished and maintained against AleXan-
| dria, until after the disappearance Of the
| disease there, 1t would be but natural to
expect cases to develope here.
ITO establish and maintain rigid quar-
antine against Alexandria, continued DIR.
Woodward, would be almost as difficult as
TO establish and maintain one of the same
nature against west Washington, or
Georgetown, SO close is the communica-
ton between the two cities. / am advised
however, that the officials of the marine
hospital service have established inspect
ors in Alexandria, who carefully inspect all
passengers bound for this city, and prevent
any suspected person from coming to Wash
ington. 1 am also informed that the steam
boat lines running to Norfolk, where the
N'SNs.'S 40 eisO pi ieNdleHl, nave engaged IN
spectors of their own-physicians, of
course--to carefully inspect ali passengers
Beyond this there has been no quarantine
established by the District authorities
say there will be none unless the situation
should become so serious as to impera-
lively require it."
Cost of the Service
ITO establish and maintain such a rigid
quarantine, explained Dr. Woodward,
would require the expenditure of much
more funds than We have at our disposal
Indeed, our smallpox service is costing the
District now not less than $50 a day, which
cost would, of course be increased propor-
t1onateiy as the disease increased here We
nave, from year to year, asked an appro-
priation of $4,000 from Congress for nre-
venting the introduction and spread of
smallpox and other major CONTAGIOUS dis
eases, but we have nevsr been given the
money, and have been compelled to de-
pend upon much smaller amount This
amount Is now reduced to about Sc, 600 GER
talnly not more, and this sum is subject to
otner calls, which might not only at any
tlme materially reduce 1t, but might wipe
II out entirely. We have with our limited
means established smallpox hospital
capable of accommodating about forty
patients, and have also established a dis
injecting service, but We should have mnrh
more money, for wa can never be sure that
we Will not need it.
Washington Fortunate.
80 lar, remarked DR.. Woodward I'VE
have been rather fortunate in the matter
OF smallpox, but We have never for a mo-
ment relaxed our vigilance The moment
suspected case is reported to US we send
our experts to make an examination. and
once the character of the disease Is esteh-
mshed the patient is hurried to the hospital.
Then we thoroughly disinfect and fumigate
the premises from which the pattept was
taken. Vacctnstte and quarantine all with
Whom the patient came in contact and es
.aoilsn guard over the house, putting up,
OF course. Immediately a large warning
sign or course, at times it is rather dim
CUT TO discover all persons with whom the
pauent came IN contact but we use every,
p pppportunlty to so do, ard have generally
oeen very successful in that matter The
period or 1ncubatton-that is the time in
which the disease develops after contart
or exposure-is from twelve to fifteen davs.
put we invariably maintain a rigid quar-
days. A
Recommends Caution
While there is no occasion for alarm, :,
concluded DR.. Woodward Il would advise
our people to use every precaution All per-
sons should be promptly vaccinated where
that precaution has not been resorted to.
and every suspicious case should be at once
reported to the health office Despite our
very limited means-fnancial means, I refer
to-we feel competent to control the cases
mere, but as long as it continues as near
TO US as Alexandria we must expect the de-
Velopment of additional cases here Two
suspicious cases were reported to me TODAY
one In the southwestern and the other in
the northwestern section of the city They
are now being examined by our experts
but We will not know definitely until later
In the day whether the cause of the illness
Is smallpox or not. The three patients at
the hospital are doing very WELL and no
serious consequences are now expected.