The times., 1899-03-08
A Case OF SMALLPOX
IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL
The Accidental Discovery of a
Health Office Agent.
The Randall Building to Be Closed
Until Disinfected.
One More Case Reported-FiGurcs
Showing How the Disease Has
Spread in Washington.

southwest. This school accommodates
about ESQ colored children. and is located
! in a thickly populated section of the city,
known as 'Bloodfeld." The Health De-
partment does not doubt its ability to cope
with the contagion, but this confidence
| does not lessen it's appreciation of the
danger of the Randall School case.
The child attended school regularly unit,
Monday, when an agent Of the Health De-
partment visited the building TO secure
some disinfecting apparatus, which had
been left there by the health inspectors
since February %. on which date one OF
the rooms was dsnfected because a sus-
pect had been removed therefrom. While
the Health Department agent was at the
school building last Monday a teacher from
one of the lower grades called his atten-
tion TO the Nickens child, who was Gov
cred with eruptions. The child was sent
home and the Health Department notified
An inspector was dispatched to the Nickens
home 800 G Street southwest, and guards
placed around the dwelling second visi.
was made yesterday and ii was found that
the child suffering with a genuine
case of smallpox. She has been sent to the
hospital. The school will be closed until
disinfected. Studies will then be resumed.
Inspectors Of the Health Department will
visit the building and examine the scholars
daily for sixteen days, or until the period
of incubation has passed.
a new case was also reported TO the
Health Department from tho Emergency
Hospital late yesterday afternoon. James
Powell applied al the hospital for treat
ment early in the day. He was found to
have smallpox and the Health Department
was Immediately notified. Powell is col
ored and lived at $40 Broad Alley. 1t is
not known whether he is related TO the
original Powell man who was sent to the
smallpox hospital. There are now thirty
one cases in the smallpox hospital.
Outside the District Health Department,
few persons know what progress the dis
ease has made since its outbreak a little
more than a month ago.
The first case discovered was that of Rev.
DR.. Milbank. colored. 1t was brought 10
the attention of DIR. William C. Woodward,
District Health Officer, on January 81. Since
then the contagion has continued TO in
crease al the rate of from one TO three
cases daily. until there are now thirty-one
cases under treatment in the smallpox
isolating hospital More than this number
has been claimed by the present epidemic,
however but all are not now at the hos
pital. eleven conyalescents having been
released.
In all forty four cases have been brought
TO the attention of the Health Department
since the last Of January. OF these two
were persons who had lived in Washing
ton but who were found TO have contracted
the disease in Alexandria. These were
Scipio Stanley. colored, and Julia Arnold.
Something like one hundred persons have
been quarantined in the various infected
houses These persons are practically.
prisoners of the District Government, and
are rot permitted 10 leave their domiciles
or to receive friends or callers. They are
in some instances. where the families were
INDECENT supported at the expense of the
District. There are nine quarantined
houses in the city. ......
In several instances houses which were
quarantined nave been vacated and their
dwellors removed 10 the detention camp"
near the new smallpox hospital In this
camp each person IS detained for a period
of sixteen days, which length of time IS
considered the regular period of incuba
tion.
The disease has been traced directly to
Alexandria and Norfolk, at which places
the infection is even greater than in this
city. With few exceptions all the victims
have been colored. The first case, that
of DR.. Wilbank was found at 309 II Street
southwest. and most Of the cases since that
time seem 10 have been in that section Of
| the city.
~
such places as the male workhouse and the
Central Unicn Mission, where there are
| many dodgers. One case was reported from
the Central Union Mission, and the colored
| ward Of that place still remains in quar-
antine. Three cases were discovered in
| the male workhouse, and of these two re-
main in the hospital AS a result OF the
appearance Of the disease in the latter in
/ stitution the District government had to
/ issue orders TO prevent the sentencing of
| additional prisoners 10 the male work
| house and likewise preventing Jneir exit.
/ During the past three days only five cases
! have been reported to the Health Depart O.
ment In view Of the fact that for week
/ an average Of two and three eases we're re-
! ported daily some persons are inclined to
/ believe that the contagion is on the wanC
I Dr. Woodward says it is very difficult TO
| judge smallpox contagion. lie thinks it
I very doubtful that the backbone OF the in
/ fCction has been broken.
The Health Department has furnished
/ the following complete list of smallpox
/ patients brought TO the attention of Dr.
/ Woodward since the beginning of the ont
/ break Of the contagion on January 81 last:
/ Rev. Alexander Wilbank, colortd, TWEEN
/ ty-seven years Old, lived at 800 II Str ct
/ southwest, removed to smallpox hospital
January %.
! Alice Williams, colored. employed a.
/ 1896 Street northwest removed TO the
! smallpox hospital January 81, released
( March >
Frank Newman. colored, eighteen years
| old, lived at 220 Wonders Court south
| west sent TO hospital January 81, released
/ March ..
Hugh Haney, colored, lived at 2IOG
/ Eleventh Street northwest, and was con
/ valescent when discovered so he was hot
I sent ia the SmallpoX hDSDital.
Esau HILL colored. twenty-three years
/ old; Rose Hill, colored twenty years old;
I Beatrice Hill, colOred, five months old ali
( lived at 2l0G Eleventh Street northwest.
/ were sent TO hospital February ), ami were
/ released March ..
/ James Curtin, white. thirty four years
/ old, lived at 623 Maryland Avenue south
west, sent TO hospital February 6.
| Walter Butler, colored. fourteen years
| old, and Nellie Butler fifteen years old.
colored. both lived at 125 First Street
| southwest; were sent to the ospital Feb
: ruary I, ana We're released 18th.
Scipio Stanley. colOrcd, twenty-eight
! years old, lived ct 1897 Cecil Alley. George
! town, while in this city; went to Alex
andria before disease was discovered and
was quarantined there February .
Mary Steele twenty years cd. white
! lived at 1904 Fourth Street southwest;
! case Of unsuccessful vaccination; sent TO
/ hospital February II; rel assd February IS.
Rose Bundy, eleven years old colored.
| lived at Sc C Street southwest, sent 10
! hospital February IL.
/ Julian Arnold, white. twenty wears old
/ lived at 721 Twelfth Street northwest.
removed to Alexandria before discovery of
disease on February 8.
! Arthur Brown, colored, twenty-eigbt
| years old, lived at 307 G Street southwest,