The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-01
new SMALLPOX CASES
FOUND IN THE CITY
Victims Discovered in George
town and Wunder's Court.
The Disease Believed TO Come From
Alexandria.
Health Authorities Isolate Patients
and Iunuguratc Measures to
Stamp Out the Coutagion.

Two cases of smallpox were reported at
the Health Office yesterday. Both, upon
investigation by experts, proved 10 b.
genuine. Measures were immediate taken
to prevent a spread by isoating the pa
tients in the smallpox hospital.
Annie Williams, a colored servant, EN-
ployed at the home of Jacob F. Stock,
1896 O Street northwest, was the first SUI
pect. She has been employed at the resi-
dence OF Mr. Stock, who is an ernp!oye in
the inspectors branch OF the fostOttice
Department, almost eleven years. She IS
related to persons living in Alexandra,
and recently visited them. 1t is Almost
clearly established in the minds OF the
health officers that she was exposed to con-
tagion during one of these visits.
When the doctor who was attending the
woman visited his patient yesterday he
noticed symptoms of smallpox. Communi-
eating with the health office, he secured
the services OF an expert VINO visited the
I Stock home and pronounced the case
! genuine smallpox. The Williams woman
/ was then removed to the Isolat on Hospi-
! tai. in the Government reservation, east
| of the aimshouse.
| Before this had been done a telephone
message was received by one of Dir. Wood
nouncins the discovery OF what appeared
/ TO be a second case of smallpox. The
| message was sent By Dr. Richardson. a
! physician to the poor, who was attending
= negro youth named Frank Newman, at
| y Wunder'G Court between Delaware
Avenue and First Street and and c
| Streets southwest. Newman had been i'll
/ about eight days, during which time he
was visited by many persons living in the
H. nsgl,.r
moned until yesterday. As soon as he
! saw the patient the doctor thought he
! showed symptoms of smallpox. His mes
| age to the Health Office soon brought an
| expert, who asserted that the case was gen.
| uine smallpox Investigation showed
! that Newman. like the Williams woman,
! had been attacked by the contagion as
! the result of recent visit to Alexandria.
Immediate precautions were taken by
the Health Office TO prevent spread OF
the disease. DR.. William c. Woodward,
| the local health officer. directed that the
| persons affected by the disease be removed
/ to the isolating hospital Immediately.
which was done later in the afternoon.
Two policemen were detailed to do guard
, duty in Wunder's Court, in which New
man had been living. The Stock resi-
dence. in Georgetown, was also quaran-
tined and placarded. Distinction of the
places where the cases developed was be-
gun shortly before nightfall. 10 one viii
be permitted 10 enter except the officials
| of the Health Office. until all danger has
passed. The occupants of The Stock resi-
dence and the Newman home will not be
allowed to go outdoors.
Early today the work of disinfecting
will be resumed. Articles of furniture will
| be taken out. washed with chemicals, and
fumigated
Should either family desire food or
any other articles they will give their or
ders through attaches of the Health Of
flee, who Will visit each house The or
ders thus received Will be filled at stores.
When the goods are delivered they will
be placed at the doors and the quaran-
tined persons viii take them into the
house.
DR.. Woodward is devotng his personal
attention 10 the new cases and said last
night that he will exert every effort 10
keep the disease from increasing The
force at the isolating hospital will be in
creased to afford proper attention TO the
three patients now confined.
DR. Woodward viii today ask the Com
mtssioners to give him an increase of sub
ordinates.
An ugly feature about the present out
break is the fact that the cases were
found in different sections of the city.
fold by this fact. Many negroes are
known 10 have visited Newman during his
illness last week and it is feared some of
them may have caught the cOntagiOn They
should exhibit symptoms within two or
three days time. Newman will be inter
viewed this morning for the purpose of
ascertaining how many persons and the
names of those who visited him while he
was sick. These persons will be sought and
quarantined.
The Rev. Mr.. Milbank, who was found
TO be suffering with smallpox last week
| and isolated il the smallpox hospital, is
reported as improved.
Dr. Walter WyInan, surgeon general of
the Marine Hospital Service, has sent pos
tive orders TO his assistants at Norfolk and
Alexandria 10 be very rigid in their ex-
aminations Of persons leaving those places
and to be sure that none is suffering with
the contagiOn The disease is rampant
| among the negroes Of both Alexandria and
/ Norfolk. In view Of their proximity TO
/ Washington it requires the greatest effort
to keep the disease back.
Inspectors examine every passenger seek
ing TO be brought up the river from Nor
| folk and Alexandria by steamer. Persons
coming from Alexandria on electric cars
are also subjected to an examination.