The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-12
AFFAIRS IN PORTO RICO
Preparations to Fight the Small
pox Scourge.
A MILLION VACCINE POINTS
A Thousand Cases of the Disease Have
Appeared-Stringsnt Measures
Will Prevent Its
Spreading.

San Juan, Porto Rico, March 11.-Dr.
Azel Ames. acting assistant surgeon of
the hospital corps, has begun the vac
cination of the 100000 inhabitants of
the island in order to prevent an cpl
demic of smallpox. He established the
United States vaccine corps at Coamo
Springs last week, and, IL successful,
will finish his work, which is of mag
nitude never before attempted by any
army practically in the field, before
July l. He hopes. then, to check eff
fectively the further spread of small
pox, which, according to the most
trustworthy estimates, now numbers
1000 cases in Porto Rico.
DR.. Ames and Capt. L. p Davidson,
president of the board of health, al
though aware of the danger from the
smallpox, believe that no cause exists
for alarm. Most of the cases discovered
so far in the southern part of the island
are of mild form. Relative to the
present situation Captain Davidson
said: although people die of small
poX, the spread of the disease can be
stopped. Consequently our first need is
virus in order to vaccinate the people.
Under Spanish rule, as far as l can
iedlL, tie oHlcldlS lOOh mo SpeGldi tdic
of the sickness, which usually comes
every winter. In the summer months,
when the 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 control of the island government
in December, saw the necessity for
nrnm nt medical 1rtiDn in order n wine
out the smallpox, and accordingly is
sued an order directing that all per-
sons on the island should be vaccinated
For this work the staff surgeon, Col
John r. Van Hoff, of course, needed
100000 vaccine points. But when the
New York dealers wanted from $4,000
to 100000 for points alone, the two
army officers saw problem of unex-
pected cost before them. At this critical
time DR.. Ames, then sanitary inspector
in Ponce, offered them a solution of the
expense difficulty,
why not make your own vaccine
points?' suggested DIR. Ames
"How?" inquired the officers.
From native CATTLE said the doctor
He Furthermore agreed, upon securing
the help Of experienced surgeons and
cattlemen, to furnish the needed virus
points. For purposes of consulta ton he
then went to two of the biggest cattle
buyers and exporters, Simon and Gus
tave Moret of Ponce. who naturally
had an influence throughout the island
To them he explained the need of the
administration, which wanted to bor-
row cattle for the production of virus
For the use of the cattle he offered the
thanks of the government and a free
official test of the herds, and perhaps
a better sale market later in the United
States. Both dealers offered their aid
to Dr. Ames. He reported then. as the
cattle were at hand, that the 100000
vaccine points could be made for $40. 900
&c. successful in his hunt for cattle
DR.. Ames accepted, at the request of
Colonel Hoff, commission to superin-
tend the vaccination.
AS political worker of some eXper-
fence, DIR. Ames, who has carried a con-
gressional district at his native home
in Massachusetts more than 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
mead of cattle, each of which furnishes
virus for 500 points. When the work
has progressed little further the corps
of surgeons can vaccinate 30 new cattle
and distribute each day $1,000 vaccine
points supplied by the animals already
treated. Detailed cavalrymen will take
the finished product of each "a hours,
riding day and night to five district
stations, respectively at Mayaguez,
Arecibo, San Juan, Guayama and
Ponce Such a plan of immediate dis
tribution doubtless will remedy a de-
feet in the temporarily used New York
vaccine, which in this warm climate
quickly loses strength. Not content with
an oversight of the whole work, DR..
Ames will take charge of the Ponce
vaccination office. His present plan is