Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-23
HEALTH OFFICE PROBATION
Efforts Taken to Prevent Spread of Small
pox in the City.
Pastor WiIIbanks Conveyed to Hos
initial aud His Family Isolated
Vaccination of Callers.

Health Officer Woodward does not be-
Neve that because the Rev. Alexander Will
banks. colored was stricken with the small
pox a published In Saturdays Star, there
is likely TO be an epidemic. but he is doing
everything In his power to prevent the
spreading Of the disease. His idea is that
to practice economy at the outbreak of
contagious disease may be a fatal mistake
Under his direction. therefore. the Rev.
VfTlhanks has been removed from his home
on II street southwest to the smallpox hos
pitaI All the members of his family, in
Guiding his mother d brother and two sis
tiers were also taken 20 the hospital \
woman who is friend of the family. and
has had the smallpox, went along, and will
rursa the patient
The health officer is certain that the col
orod divine contracted the disease in Alex
andria. for. in addition to his church in this
city. the pastor preached in Alexandria
twica a month il is stated. and made many
other visits to that city. Only week be-
fore he was taken sick he preached at
funeral there
Pastor Winbanks objected at first to leav-
ing his home. but Yesterday he changed his
mind. and. as already stated. he was con-
yeyed to the hospital. Since the case was
reported Friday afternoon the house had
been strictly guarded. and this quarantine
Will be maintained until the danger period
i passed.
List of Callers Obtained.
Before the removal OF the members of the
WiIlbarks family TO the hospital the health
office officials obtained a long list of the
names Of the minister's callers. and each
caller has been visited and vaccinated.
Members of the sick mans theological
class at Howard University have taken
similar prscaution. and the rooms at the
university have been thoroughly fumigated.
Yesterday and Saturday rooms in the Ran
dali school building where the Wihbanks
children attended. were fumigated. Yes
terday and Saturday the lead pencils III
the schools were all destroyed and the
books were fumigated. The books and
pencils being the property Of the District
are distributed each morning and collected
in the afternoon. DR.. Woodward insisted
or the destruction of the pencils.
The home of the Willbanks family is
being fumigated today, and 1t is likely
those of the family who are now at the
smallpox hospital. with the exception of
the pastor. Will be returned there tomor
row or "Wednesday. Before being returned
there they will he given a change of wear
ing apparel that has been thoroughly tumi-
gated and each be given a medicinal bath.
When they, return to their home they will
h required to remain in the house until
The danger period Is passed
Only Case in Town.
DR.. Woodward told a Star reporter today
that the Rev. WiIlbanks is the only small
poN patient in this city. Should the disease
b. contracted by any other members of the
family the eruption is not likely to appear
until the last Of this week, and probably
Mt until next week The average period
o. Incubation, it is stated. is nine days from
n" last exposure. When the fifteenth day
from the last exposure has passed without
Showing signs of the disease the person ex-
posed l. considered safe from an attack
men the smallpox ambulance called at
tho Nilbanks house an immense crowd
gu hered on the sidewalk and in the street
The health officials found ii necessary to
call the police in order to dispense the
crowd of curious people. At the hospital
today 1t was stated that the patient was
doing very we'll considering the severity of
IN" attack. though he is by no means out
Of danger.