Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-09
GROSS NEGLECT ALLEGED
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY HEALTH
OFFICERS CRITICISED.
Charge Made That They Have Not
Given Proper Attention to
Smallpox Cases.

The Prince Georges county health au-
| thorittes are being severely criticised for al
| legged neglect to take proper precautions to
prevent the spread of smallpox, which is
declared to have been prevalent at College
Park, and in Hyattsville. At the monthly
| meeting of the Maryland state board Of
health, held yesterday in Baltimore, Secre-
tary John S. Fulton submitted a report, in
which he said there were four cases of small
pox in College Park, which had received no
attention from the county health board. DR..
Fultons report stated that two of the cases
were located on the land of the Agricultural
College, one Immediately across the road
and the fourth in barn loft in Hyattsville.
All were traceable to one case, which was
reported to the Prince Georges county au-
thorities on July 10, and was not visited,
according to the report, by any member of
the board until August II, nor had there
been any quarantine other precautions
taken to control the movements of the pa
tents.
The secretary was instructed to inform
the boards III the neighboring counties and
those in the District of Columbia and Bal
timore city, ard acquaint them with the in
action of the Prince Georges board.
The secretary was also directed to send
statement of the facts to the Prince
Georges board and to ask whether they in
tend to pursue the same policy of inaction
in the future.
DR.. Fulton was at Hyattsville yesterday,
and in company with DR.. G. A. Richardson
visited College Park, where it was said
five cases of smallpox had developed in the
preceding forty-e.ght hours. They pro-
nounced the disease smallpox of a mild
type. One case reported upon the farm
of MIR. George H. Calvert.
The county health officer, DR.. L. A. Grf-
fifth, was notified by DR. Fulton that the
county must forthwith o of
cases, and that if it failed to do so promptly
the state would take the matter in hand
ana mold the county responsible for all eX-
penSeS incurred. DR.. Fulton stated that
while the disease was of a modified type,
Its rapid spread made an epidemic certain,
unless immediate measures were taken to
avert It. There We're eight cases reported
in the neighborhOod up to yesterday, all
the victims being colored
Action of Washington Authorities.
Referring 20 the outbreak of smallpox in
Hyattsviile, Md, and that vicinity, Acting
Health Officer H. c. Mclean stated to a
reporter of The Star this afternoon that
the District health department has done
all could do, which was to notify the Mary
land authorities of the cases reported and
to assure them that the local authorities
may be depended upon to give them every
assistance possible. The District health de-
partment has been watching the Maryland
cases, said Mr.. Mclean, and will continue
to keep track of all parties coming to the
District from the neighborhood of Hyatts-
vile, who may have been in contact with
the cases. The Maryland cases being with
out the jurisdiction of the District health
officer, nothing more be done by him
than to keep all suspected persons under
inspection after their entrance into the
District, and TO render whatever assistance
outs de of that to the Maryland authori-
ties which may be possible
There is but case of smallpox known
n fyiS in tr.a Ilig-t
the patient being the War Department
clerk, who was removed to the hospital
about a week ago, and who is believed to
have contracted the disease in North Caro-
lima. There are no suspects here, and if
the Maryland authorities will exercise prop
er care. and 1t is believed here they will,
now that fine Maryland state board o
health has taken up the matter, no fear of
the disease spreading from Hyattsville into
the District is anticipated by the local
health department.