The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-10
TREATMENT OF SMALLPOX.
SkiIIfuI Handling of the Disease by
the Health Department

SkiiIful Handling of the Disease by
the Health Department.
H c. Mclean. Chief Clerk of the Health
Department, has given out some facts with
reference TO the smallpox service which
throw some light on the efficiency of mod
ern methods OF treating and caring for
those unfortunate enough to contract this
disease. It appears that during the year
1900, there were eighty-one cases of small
pox treated by the Health Department. Six
Of these came from points outside Of the
District and in every instance we're the
means Of spreading the disease after their
arrival here. Four of the patients taken
to the Smallpox Hospital died, and these
happened 10 be all OF one family, who
seemed to have no vitality to throw off the
disease. The officials Of the department
feel we'll satisfied with the results, when
it is taken into account that considerable
number of these treated were very i'll and
at times were in danger of death. One
case in particular is spoken of as be-
ing unusually severe, but the patient was
a young man and finally pulled through
But the treatment Of the persons sick
in the hospital, the Chief Clerk explains,
is only a small part of the service. All
1he people in the houses where the dis
ease is located have TO be placed under
watch either by quarantining the houses
or by taking the patients to the detention
camp. This step is necessary because the
people exposed to the contagion are sus-
poets for a period of sixteen days, and
may be seized with the disease during
that time. MIR. Mclean spoke of one in
stance in which coIored man remained
in the detention camp the entire sixteen
days without showing and symptoms of
the attack of smallpox which followed. On
/ the morning of the sixteenth day he COM
planned of headache and had other suspi-
cious symptoms. He was retained for
another day and had smallpox. Only
small percentage of those taken to the
detention camp develop smallpox, but the
theory that some OF those in the houses
/ where smallpox breaks out will contract
/ 1t. and that there is really 10 safety ex-
cept in isolation during the period OF
/ incubation
When victim Of smallpox is found in
| q house Mr. Mclean stated the inmates
are given the choice of remaining at home
| under quarantine or OF going to the de-
| tention camp The detention camp con-
! sist of several small houses in Southwest
/ Washington standing apart from other
/ dwellings. These houses. though small,
are fitted up comfortably. and are in
| charge OF an Italian immune and his wife.
| Many people have a sort Of instructive
( horror Of the detention camp and refuse
! point blank to be taken there. Such per-
! sons are placed under quarantine. and in
| some instances several watchmen are re-
| CURED TO keep the people from going out
and passing beyond the quarantine In
| one case six guards were stationed around
| house in the northwest section to keep
the inmates under surveillance
| Mr. Mclean explained that 1t would
! greatly simplify matters If all would go
| to the detention camp While the accom-
modations there are not sumptuOus, they
I are all that is required for the comfort OF
| the suspects who are taken there. The
| Chief Clerk produced a letter from War
| ren Yeatman a clerk in the Geological
| Survey, who was taken from the house
| at 1912 @ Street where a case of small
pox had developed Mr. Yeatman wrote:
I desire. among other things, TO ex-
press my thanks 10 you for having placed
| me under the charge OF Mr. Repetti and
| wife al the camp I have been royalty
treated by them. Their efforts 10 please
and cater TO my wants We're something
| beyond the ordinary; they did their ut
| most TO make my stay there one Of
pleasure
Mr. Mclean stated that Mr.. Yeatman's
letter had given the department much
| satisfaction. and he thought that If the
| people of the city generally could divest
| themselves OF the prejudice which they
feel against going. the department would
get along much more easily than now, and
| with less expense TO the District.