New-York tribune., 1902-04-06
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH

Perhaps no one sees more OF varied human
nature during the Gay than the persons connected
with the Health Department. whose duty 1t Is to
vaccinate all sorts and conditions OF human kind
Those who come the rooms Of the department
in Clinton-st are willing victims, but of them
make as much fuss if they were being led to
the electric chair An hour or two spent with The
vaccinators there is an interesting experience
which remembers for days. Dr. susan X
Fray of South Ninth-st. who has been in charge
Of the vaccination work in Clinton-st for the Iast
week told some interesting stories the other DAY
.'our work is hard end exactlns,' said Or. Pray,
'rbut there are opportunities for studying human
nature which in a measure compensate us. Tor
time / was acting medical inspector We heard
that there child sick with smallpox in an
Italian tenement house When went into the
soualid room in sight, excepting a
woman evidently the mother. Where is your
chnd?' I said. Me child, was the reply.
Yes you have I said and if you don't show
him TO me ] will call the police Finally got the
woman frightened. and she opened closet. When
! looked in there seemed TO be nothing there
cept pile of very dirty rags The woman leaned
down and began paw away the rags like dog
scratching dirt Pretty soon out popped the head
dragged him out and brought him to 1 found
that The child did have smallpox. but was suf-
You can keep your child ] said We don't
want TO bother with him
The Italians in great fear Of vaccination. and
resort all sorts Of means TO hide themselves and
children. II the child Is small enough tfeN
will nut in the bureau drawer. ] have found
dozens Of babies there. and my experience has
taught me never TO overlook the smallest nook or
Granny in searching for persons in the tenement
houses One woman whom We vaccinated admitted
visits of the Health Departments vaccinato by
crawling under the bed and she bewailed her luck
IN at last getting caught
One day / was sent to look for smallpox in
fairly respectable neighborhood the sec
n1z- reFraS Cd 70 1ar ma
.n but threatened to kick m downstairs.
Well. said if you don't let me in will get
a policeman.
TOO
Then. I'll get ten policemen ] replied. un-
oaunted Perhaps you will kick them downstairs.
and perhaps they Will kick YOU down.
SO I went away and called up Police Head
quarters Two officers appeared in a few minutes
from a nearby station. We went back. One Of the
polioeunen went up with first, and the
fused TO let us in. Just then he saw the helmet
Know ye whefher the man thought that j had really
rieht down from his high horse and Let US in
DR.. PRAY says that young girls stand vaccination
better than any other class Boys and. particu-
larly men. she says. often faint. At times where
a large number of being vaccinated at
once as in a factory. it is common thing for
seven or eight TO keel over before the vaccinator
gets the end Of the line School children rarely
give much trouble now. because they nave got used
being vaccfnated. and 90 not mind IL
DR.. Pray a bright, lively woman. who keeps
her patients diverted and amused by her in
teresting anecdotes that the vaccination is III over
before they realize it. The other afternoon she
was particularly busy. Persons would walk into the
Office in a half timid way evidently frightened by
the prospect.
Want to he vaccinated get certifcate?" DR..
PRAY would crisp busincsslike way.
scarcely looking up from the she scratch
ing
-.VIccinated? All right Roll up your left sleeve
And she kept on scratching away and telling
humorous stories BY the time il the timid
persons turn they had almost forgotten what they
had come for Next" and they take the chair
next 10 the doctors desk She tells another story.
and then says There. that IL all Please take
there and let IL dry And the person
looks and sees bright red place his her
arm and realizes that IL is all over
A slight soueamishness may come for an in
etsnf the sight of blood: then IL is all forgot
ten again IN some story. DR. Pray actually has
suggest persons that the vaccina is dry and
running fire OF comment and story
in trying get little girl TO give her address
the other day. DR.. Pray got an answer that stag
gered for minute.
Now. II you lost" she asked. and the
policeman should find you. where would you tell
him TO take you2"
TO .he station" quickly replied rhe little girl
DR.. Pray then decided 10 get her Information from
the mother.