The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-11-26

SMALLPOX SCARE
City and County Health
Boards Prepare for
Epidemic.
SIXTEEN PATIENTS NOW
Freeholders Push Work On
New Isolation Hos
pital.

epidemic. All the members expressed
themselves as sure that there would be
an alarming amount of smallpox here.
Half an hour was taken up with dis
cussion as to the best means of handling
The cases that viii demand the Boards
attention.
DIR. McGill President of the Board.
aid:-"There will be a serious epidemic
of smallpox in this city this winter
Everything points to it.
The Board came to the conclusion that
the matter would be SO serious that the
city should have a separate hospital and
an ambulance and that the City Physi-
clan should have the right to remove pa
tents without waiting for the consent OF
the County Physician. as is now the rule
DIR. McGilI said that the City Physicians
were fully capable of diagnosing case
of smallpox. He also said that the delay
caused by awaiting the action of the
County Physician was a danger to the
city when a case of smallpox was per-
mitted to exist in the heart of thickly
populated section without seclusion for
from twelve to twenty-four hours, as
was now the case.
Doctors Brinkerhoff. Rector and Hart
were appointed a committee to confer
with the County Health authorities with
a view TO making arrangements to do
away with the delay.
DR.. Edward Hart was appointed chief
deputy inspector at a salary OF $75
month. Doctors Stephen s. Stout and
Robert Stewart and Mr.. Edward Salmon
were appointed deputies at a salary of
$50 month each.
no ln nr3afl7fri Qf small
pox in a most virulent form, predicted
by County Physician Converse through
the columns of 1.-The News. a year ago,
has begun. Eight eases in three days
accompanying the first really cold
weather have set the county authorities
on the eui yive and caused preparations
for patients to be pushed at Snake Hill.
The new isolation hospital which is be-
ing erected on the site of the old pest
house, will not be ready for occupancy
for a month yet. but the Freeholders
have made arrangements for the care OF
before that time.
In a roomy and substantial canvas tent,
well heated by three large stoves, the six
teen patients now at Snake Hill are be-
ing cared for. Two extra nurses have
and everything is provided for the COM
fort of the patients.
In addition to this. work was begun yes
terday on the Contagious Disease Hospi-
tai situated at the southerly side of the
Hin 10 have it in readiness for smallpox
patients should it be required before the
new Isolation Hospital is completed.
The Contagious Disease Hospital is
substantial three story brick building, well
eau;pped. 1t is controlled by the County
Boara of Health and was intended to be
nsed only for patients suffering from scar
lAt fever. diphtheria and kindred diseases
For some time, however. there have been
no patients except few Almshouse chill
dren suffering from an eye disease. Yes
terday those little ones were removed to
another isolated place, and by direction of
t,,e senolders. Warden Joseph Whelan
and his family moved their belongings
from the institution and 1t was turned
over to Medical Superintends snt George w
King to be used as smallpox hospital
should occas on require.
Physicians. generally. endorse the use OF
a tent for smallpox cases in preference
to an enclosed building. 1t Is contended
that plenty of fresh air is more bene-
fetal than any treatment for the disease,
and even the conva.escing patients now
at the Hill prefer remaining in the tent
TO going to the new quarters provided az
the Contagious Disease Hospital
Nearly all the cases that have been
treated recently have been much more
virulent in form than those OF last year.
An the work is being done under the
direction of County Physician Converse,
who has been given full charge by the
Freehoiders. He il ably assisted by
Medical superintendent Or. George W
King and Dr. Richard Schlemm.
The tent can Accommodate thirty-five
comfortably and it has every possible
convenience. The sexes are separated
and the cooking is done In the old farm
bouse which adjoins the tent All the
pafierts are doing well, and although
several of them have very severe types
of the disease the recovery Of all Is ex-
pected,
Mrs. Toal Of No. 142 Wayne street,
while not afflicted with the disease her
sell. IS confined at the pesthouse, caring
far her nursing baby, Lillian, who has
continent smallpox. Mrs. Toal is Of
ereat assistance to Warden Havens in
Gazing for the other sufferers as we'll
She and her baby were taken there on
Saturday last.
The popular supposition that a person
cannot contract the disease a second time
* inset BIZ the case Of James K. Shanks,
of 10. 1870 Davis avenue, Arlington He
6 ,,av, th5rtv-two years old and he caught
t,,e smallpox from his brother, who mas
since. died slt the Essex County Isolation
r1a.nf+al Mr Shanks first had the dis