The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-05
SMALLPOX IN PORTO RICO.
GEN. HENRY ORDERS THE VACCTNA-
TTON or EPERY INHABITINT.
DIR, Ames Preparing n Million Vaccine
Points from Cattle in the ~aud-Abo
1000 Cases Of the Disease Now, but
There Is Little Fear That II VIII Spread.

SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, Feb. 25,-Dr. Azel
Amos. acting assistant surgeon OF tho Hospital
Corps, has begun the vaccination ofthe OOO,OOO
inhabitants Of the island In order to prevent an
| epidemic OF SMALLPOX, He established the
United States Vaccine Corps at Coamo Springs
last week. and. IL successful. will finish his
work. which Is of a magnitude never before at
tempted by an army practically in the field, be-
fore July 1. He hopes. then. 20 check effective
ly the further spread OF smallpox. which, ac-
cordinR to the enthusiastically estimates, now
numbers 900 cases In Porto Rico,
DIR. Ames and Capt. l.. I. Davidson, President
OF the Board OF Health although aware OF tho
danger from the SMALLPOX. believe that no
cause exists for alarm. Most OF the cases dis
covered so far in tho southern part OF tho
island are of a mild form, Relative to the
present situation Capt, Davidson says: A
though people die of smallpox. the spread OF
the disease can be stopped. Consequently our
first need Is virus In order to Vaccinate the
people. Under Spanish rule, rs far ms 1 can
learn. the officials took no special care OF the
sickness. which usually comes every winter.
In the summer months. when tho poor lay
aside their ragged clothes more than in winter.
fewer cases are reported. No towns are quar-
antined now. nor are we alarmed at the present
situation, but we need virus"
Gen. Guy V. Henry. soon after he took con-
troll OF the island Government in December.
saw the necessity for prompt medical action in
order to wipe out the smallpox, and accord
ingly issued an order directing that all persons
on the island should be yacclnated. For this
work the stan surgeon, Col John X. Van Hon.
Of course. needed V, vaccine points;
$4,000 to 100000 for points alone, tho two
army officers, saw Q problem 81 pnexpected
Ames. then Sanitary lnspectorin Ponce. offered
them q solution, of the expense difliculty. -,
why not make your own vaccine points?'
| suggested DR.. Ames..
How :" inquired tho officers,
From native cattle" said the doctor. He
Furthermore agreed, upon securing the help OF
nisG The HceqseSd Virus points oil For purposes Of
consultation he then went to two of the biggest
cattle buyers and exporters. Simon and Gus
tavo Moret OF Ponce. who naturally had an in
| explained tho need of tho Administration,
which wanted to borrow cattle. for the produc-
ti2n Of ypir"si For tie use Of the cattle he
| FREQ Official test of, the herds, and perhaps n
better sale market later in the United states.
Both dealers offered their aid to DIR. Ames. He
reported then. as tho cattle were at hand; that
the 100000 vaccine. points could be made for
Or. Ames accepted, at the request OF Col: Hoff,
a eommission to supcr!ntend the vaccination;
As n political worker of some experiences. Or:
Ames. who has carried IA Congressional district
at his native home in MASSACHUSETTS, more han
once, knows the value of good organization,
and has outlined his whole vaccination work
carefully. For the production OF the necessary
virus he will need 1000 head OF cattle. each Of
tbe Hor IRHfhh as nso SiTus ,pr !, p Titt} Poi fnrths Th Zen
corps of surgeons can yaccinate thirty new
cattle and distribute each day $1,000 vaccine
points supplied by the animals already treated.
! Detailed cavalrymen will take the finished pro;
duct Of EACH twenty-four hours. riding day and
MayaGuez. Arecibo. San Juan. Guayama and
Ponce; Such n plan of immediate distribution
a IariIy USED Ti Ne TSHY% 9rk a yn dsiect W W feS f} s tR3s
warm climate quickly loses strength. Not con
tent with an oversight Of the whole work. DR..
Ames will take, charge of the Ponce vaccina-
ton office. His present plan Is to get the
names a. e. Of gach man, woman and child in his
mated. 1t the people do not come willingly
they can easily be found by the police.
first 4tt EsHSsnt 1Se faT nTe' %h eTrS so3 i h lesd' Sf ca sst Tie
are under treatment. After these animals have
been trepted, the corps will remove to another
1000 cattle have furnished the required vac
cine. DIR. Timothy Leary has charge OF the
whether the animals are healthy and in n Mt
condition for treatment. For the vaccination
OF the cattle and the collection OF the virus, two
Moret and W, R: Kirk for assoclates, DR.. Rich
ard Wilson will have charge 81 the distribution.
From the Government stations the vaccine
points will he sent free to the various district
towns. whose only expense will be the employ
ment Of physicians in the actual vaccination.
For the instruction. OF the Porto Ricans, DIR.
Ames has directed the publication in the Span
which reads in part: "SmalIpoy has become
widespread in the island OF Porto Rico, It has
interior towns. that it has become necessary to
suppress 1t at once, II this measure is not
enormous expense will be created In order to
care for an epidemic. many persons without eX-
cqpse will be dIsaguref forever. a large amount
todestroy means Of contagion and tho business
trade OF the island will be.as has occurred in
other places. il the towns allow the disease TO
progress-stopped and finally ruined. New
York and other ports Of the United States and
Europe. if nothing is done to ward of the cpl
demic which threatens us, will close their trade
soon. to the deprivation OF this island. Tour
lists and capitalists will go away from ns; In
consequence. the business interests will have
difficulty in reviying and commerce. will be
stopped. And al this will be caused only by
not preventing tho spread OF an infection easy
For more than a century observations have
demonstrated clearly that vaccine virus is a
sure preventive against smallpox, In view Of
this fact the General in charge of this island,
n nn3bIsl b6 5SF is ths health sn 6r3 fnd dRT rect;nH tE Of the ni
the inhabitants. cxcept those who have been
treated so, should be vaccinnted. He more
over has taken the necessary measures to fur
nish all towns tho required vaccine. The Gov
eminent OF the United States will give the
virus free of cost, besides organizing the Vac
cine Corps, for, the protection Of the people.
The extent OF the work, greater and more ser
before has been seen in ffbe Wno r r a LAM will will
show the Porto ~Gticans its Importance, ~
In conclusion. the Vaccine Corps trusts. in the
80 49,. = So h.S'', - iiNiiib uiu
to the work for the benefit of public health.,''
DR.. Ames. in coming to Porto Rico. has taken
up his sanitary and Vaccine Corps work volun-
tarlly. As the owner OF extensive stock farm
interests. n leading citizen OF the Massachu-
setts Commonwealth. and a personal friend of
the President, lie naturally Is not compelled TO
labor at Coam2 and Ponce Tor q livelihood. lie
is in tho work for the sake OF humanity. An
ardent. practical eXpansiOniRt he believes that
the problem will show 10 the world the atti-
tude and policy OF the United States Govern
ment toward its new possessions, and will be to
the .anti-eNpansionistS AN illustration that
we hold, the possessions In trust for ciyiliza.
ton" BY a complete and detailed history Of
each part Of the work DR.. Ames further hopes
TO benefit science, HIS experiences along this
line OF work has not been limited heretofore.
Since 1872 when he first issued the famous
which now are in force In 5000 towns in tho
United States. he has been sent abroad by the
Government 1--WE times in order to study public
health questions. He has also served as See
rotary Of the American Public Health Associa-
ton; and as a partner Of, Russell Harrison in
large holder in the Ames and Plymouth Rock
Cattle companies. and has held the office OF
Yio4-PresiIent Of the Consolidated Cattle
Association,
81.