The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-21

An Interesting question has been raised
in the Health Department with reference
to the frequent outbreaks of smallpox
in the District. Some OF those whose du-
ty it is to care for th1se afflicted with
the disease are wondering where II
cones from Despite the efforts of the
department TO confne the disease and TO
eradicate it smallpox hobs up IN The most
unexpected quarters, neeessitaSias much
Watchfulness aud large expense 10 keep
it within Hounds.
For instance, among The ten cases the
department HIS been called upon to care
for recently there is in rega,i to two
no knowledge Of the source Of the dis
ease. All enquiries refative to the mat
ter go to show that So far as any direct
connection with established cases Of
smallpox is CONCERNED, these are sporad-
ie IN the cases OF the other eight. one
contracted the disease in North Carolina.
one of them in Virginia. cne in Maryland.
and the others from contact with small
pox SUBJECTS within the District.
This record IL was stated by one OF
the officials OF the Health Department, is
very suggestive relative to the manner in
which smallpox is contracted and spread
about the city. These three cases, he
remarked, which were brought here from
the outside show that Washington IS all
the while in danger rom smallpox con-
tagion from the neigbboring States The
District is, SO TO speak, a dumping ground
for this and other diseases. AS an Illus
tration OF what he meant the official
spoke OF the case Of Frank Hotehkiss.
now in the smallpox hospital under treat
ment This man, he said, evidently con-
tracted the disease in West Virginia
Then he came down to Holbrook TO work
in the brick yards. and when taken sick
was bought 20 washington TO TIE Emer-
gency Hospital, and this official sale that
Hotchkiss' companion, John Roland, who
brought him from Virginia was subse-
queRtIy attacked and Is now in the hos
pitaI. The case of the physician who paid
visit TO North Carolina and brought
back the smallpox with him was men,
toned as another instance of the same
kind.
! As an illustration OF the manner IN
which the disease is spread about here
! in the city, The case of the eoloTed man
/ who was taken from Wylie Court north
east was mentioned In this hose a
/ woman was sick ana died about the time
the man referred to was coming down
/ with lhe disease Several persons visit
{ ed the place, and three OF them are now
/ in the smallpox hospital under treatment
1t was pointed out that here were at least
/ four cases fraceable to q man who while
! suffering from the smallpox came into he
/ city over the street car line from Chesa-
I peake Junction. one Of the men sitting
/ with him IN the same seat being the man
taken from Wylie Court
The fact was also pointed out that OF
the ten cases under consideration. only
two we're white-the one who contracted
the disease IN North Carolina and the
! white girl taken from the house 80 Massa-
chusettS Avenue. This aad other records
/ OF the Department, this official said, point
20 the fact that the disease prevails
largely among the colored people This.
he thought. was attributable to the fact
that the disease is not now regarded as
fatal. and the negroes do not seem to care
whether they have Il or not They seem
TO argue. this man said, that they will be
taken care Of at the expense Of the Dis
trict while i'll, and that it is not worth
while to take any preeaution against
taking smallpox He said that their So
cia1 habits we're directly accountable for
the spread Of the disease recently from
WyIie Court
In speaking OF the matter in a general
way, Dr.. Woodward, the Health Officer
stated that while the two cases referred
to as sporadic could not be accounted for.
| it must be accepted that they were ex-
posed 10 the disease somewhere in a
street car. on the street, in a store or
elsewhere The disease, he said, could
not be developed de DoTo- This fact, he
thought, ought to Lad people generally
TO be vaecinated. as tLey do not know
when or where they may be exposed 70
centagion-
Dr. Woodward sta5sd that While small
Pcx is very contagious aisea4S all per
| sous are not susceptible to it and nav be
| exposed without contracting IL He said
however. that the immUnes were few and
that the safer way was to make sure by
thorough vaccinations Then. he said, there
would be no danger in meeting any ann
Der Of smallpox patients
In speaking of the bringing Of the dis
case TO the city from the rural districts OF
Virginia and Maryland, DR.. Woodward said
that 1t was natural and one Of the things
that must be expected He said that the
1 country people have not the means OF the
facilities &c deal with smallpox that are
provided in the city. They cannot Isolate
the patients SO effectually. and cannot or
at least do not, disinfeet the houses where
the patients have been Ill with the dis
ease. In this way DR.. Woodward ex-
planned. the smallpox has become. so to
/ speak, Indigenous in many neighborhoods,
50 that whenever a new family moves i1t,.
one OF these houses or pays visit to them
the members contract the disease. He said
the negligence Of the negroes along these
/ lines accounts for the frequency CT out
| breaks Ct smallpox among them
/ Dr. Woodward stated his belief of the
proposition that germs of smallpox are
/ carried over the summer in clothing pack
ed away in boxes and trunks These germs.
| he thought, multiplied slowly during the
I long summer, AMI when the thick clothing
was brought out again in the fall these
| germs were ready to become active as con-
tagion sp7eaders. He said that the only
way TO hold the smallpox in check under
| present conditions is te isolate those who
! have the disease, as is ROW done in the
| District. and TO vaccinate those in health
IS widely as possible
Just Like Boston Girls.
(From the Indianapolis JournsI.)