Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-25
SMALLPOX DEVELOPS
p Il
Two Cases Reported by the District
Health Office.
TIE HOUSE PLACED In QUARANTINE
Patients at Once Removed to the
Hospital.
OFFICERS 80 INVESTIG ATING

The announcement was made this after
noon by Mr.. H. C. Mclean, the acting
health officer that smallpox has again de-
veloped in the District, an investigation
conducted by the health office this morning
resulting In the discovery of two cases Of
the disease. The afflicted persons reside at
94l ii street northwest, and are young
white men-Alexander G. Stephens twenty
years OF age. and Rudolph R. Grant, aged
twenty-three years.
The house in which the cases were dis
covered is said to be a boarding house,
the inmates, including three servants,
numbering nineteen. The afflicted young
men, the health officer has been informed,
have been sick about three days, and their
ailment being of a suspicious character
the matter was called to the attention Of
the health department. with the result
above stated. The house was, of course,
Immediately placed in quarantine and the
warming sign displayed in conspicuous
position. This afternoon the patients We're
removed to the District smallpox hospital
anG guard was placed over the house;
which precaution will be maintained until
all danger of the disease again appearing
therein has passed. The house was also
thoroughly fumisated.
Officers Investigating.
This afternoon the health department off,
Gals are busily engaged in investigating
the history of the cases discovered today,
and from the informat ton already received
1t Is believed that the young men contract
ed the dread disease in Alexandra, where
they went the 18th instant to witness the
sesqui-centennial ceremonies held there
that day. Mr.. Stephens has been in Wash
lngton about four weeks, as has Mr. Grant,
the former having come here from Kansas
and MIR. Grant from Florida. 1t is said
they are students of the Bliss Electrical
school in this city, and as Alexandria is
said to be the only place infected by small
pox which they have visited since leaving
home 1t is believed by the health depart
ment officials that they contracted the dis
ease there.
The Inmates of the house in which the
disease was today discovered are said to
comprise employees of the government,
school teachers and others, although the
health department has not definitely ascer-
tanned that any of the inmates are school
teachers or government employees. The
health officer, while approaching The gray
ity OF the situation, feels himself to be able
to prevent any extended spread of the dis
ease, although it is not improbable, of
course, that other cases will develop in the
house. Fortunately, the health depart ment
is well supplied With funds, and the small
poX hospital is well equipped Tor the re-
ception and care of patients.
Outbreak Not Unexpected
The reappearanee of the disease was not
of it's reported It appearance in Alexandria
and everything has been kept in readiness
at the smallpox hospital and at the deten-
ton camp Last, season, 1t Will be remem
bered, the first case of the disease was dis
covered here about the middle of January,
although it, subsequently traRspred that
one or more cases had developed the latter
part of DECEMBER.
Nearly, one hundred cases were treated
here during the winter and spring, but
only one, case resulted fatally, the disease
being remarkably mid in character. All
but five or six of the patients were ne
groes.
The miIdness of the disease however,
was one of the principal causes of its
spread, those afflicted being in many in
stances not so i'll but that they could
and did leave their homes and wander
about the streets. If the disease should,
during the present outbreak, be of a more
severe character, that fact would assist
the health officer and his assistants in all
the more readily and quickly stamping it
out.
Speaking of the matter this afternoon, Dr.
VIM. c. Woodward, the health officer stat
ed that no effort will be omitted to con-
fine the disease to the house In which ii
was today discovered, and to prevent It's
spread. Vaccination, he said is one of
the very best aids the health department
can have in its efforts to subdue the dis
ease, and he suggested that all persons who
have not recently been successfully vaccin-
ated should undergo the operation at the
earliest possible moment. During the af-
ternoon he hoped TO ascertain the correct
history of the cases, and to obtain such
other information as viii assist in prevent
ing its spread and In stamping it out here.
Held in Detention Camp.
DR.. Woodward, the health officer, was
notified late this afternoon that for a few
days at least persons afflicted with small
pox must be placed in the detention camp,
as a new heating apparatus is being in
stalled in the new hospital. and work on il
will not be finished for several DAYS The
detention camp is located in the vicinity of
the hospital and patients can be easily ac-
commodated and well cared for in the camp
buildings. The two cases discovered here
today will, therefore, be treated in one of
the detention camp buildings until the heat
ing apparatus of the smallpox hospital is
completed.