The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-23
SMALLPOX PATIENT REMOVED.
Every Prccaution Taken by Health
Officers to Prevent Contagion.

The yellow smallpox flag is still flying
at the home of the Rev. Alexander Will
banks, No. 309 II Street southwest, bit
the clerical victim Of the nalady is no
longer there nor are any OF the persons
who occupied the house with him. All
were removed TO the smallpox hospital
vest erday. The Rev. Mr.. Willbanks and
his sister. who has been nursing him, will
be detained at the hospital until the pa
tient has recovered.
The other members Of the family, in
Guiding five children and their aged grand
mother. will be detained at the hospital
until their home has been thoroughly FUN
gated. They will then be allowed to re-
turn, but will be kept under strict quaran-
tine for fifteen days thereafter.
The Rev. Mr.. Willbanks has stoutly
maintained since his case was diagnosed
as smallpox that he would not permit the
health officials to remove him from his
home. The greatest persuasion was
brought to bear, but without avail. There
was no law that could compel man
to submit to being removed from his own
home. and the health officers, realizing
| this, found themselves confronted with a
very difficult problem.
Although a strict quarantine with
guard was maintained at the infected
house. the presence of the disease in a
populated district was considered a men
ace TO the other residents. and caused
| not only them, but the Health Office, great
concern. To leave the patient in the house
and prevent a spread of the contagious
malady was considered almost impossible.
II was finally decided that heroic meas
ures must be adopted TO persuade the Rev.
Mr. Willbanks to submit to being trans
| ferred. Drastic methods could not be en-
Mo- nd mr. ('rpiphtOD
ward the District Health Officer, decided
upon diplomacy.
Dr. Woodward argued with the Rev.
Wllbanks, and after much persuasion,
wherein he set forth the danger TO which
the entire neighbOrhood was exposed, he
finally induced the clergyman to accept a
charitable and Christian view of the situa-
ton and consent TO a removal OF hims II
and the other occupants Of the house 10
the smallpox hospital.
The removal OF the patient and his
family. their detention at the hospital
until the home is thoroughly fumigated
and the subsequent strict quarantine
which will follow the return of those per
sons who have shown no symptoms of the
disease during their stay at the hospital
TO the home, practically eliminates the
possibility of a spread OF the smallpox in
that quarter.
came in contact with the Rev. Mr.. Will
banks at HE home before his case was
diagnosed and quarantine established.
and who may, possibly, have been in
noculated with the germs of the disease.
Those persons are being sought out and
vaccinated and will be closely watched
for Il number OF days.
The Rev Mr.. Wilbanks was theoloSt-
cal studel, at Howard University and at
tended several lectures at the hall of
theology while suffering with what. he
supposed was an attack of the grip. When
this fact was made known TO the Health
Officer it was decided that. as precau-
tionary measure, the hall should be fumi-
gated. This was done yesterday in a
thorough manner and there will be no in
terruption OF the work OF the theological
classes The Randall school building in
South Washington, which was attended
by the children of the sister OF the Rev.
| Mr.. Willhanks, has also been thoroughly
| fumigated and will be open today as usual
for the accommodation OF the pupils.