Evening star., 1902-02-20
Another Clerk in Register Of
Wills Office Affected.
OF SOMERSET HEIGHTS
REPORTED HIMSELF AT HEALTH
OFFICE THIS MORNING.
Mr.. Bailey Had Been Assured He Was
Suffering Only With Grip
Fu1nigating Papers.

Mr. Louis ]. Bailey twenty-five years old,
a clerk in the register of wills office.
was taken to the smallpox hospital today
suffering with that disease. Mr.. Bailey re
sides at Somerset Heights. Md He had not
been at work since the 1ith instant. The
fact that he had ~ecn exposed 10 smallpox
and that he was absent from duty at his
home in Maryland, presumably by reason
of sickness, was reported to the Maryland
authorities on Monday last. the day on
which 1t became known that one of the
employees Of the office of the register Of
wills was sick with smallpox.
Mr. Bailey was. he states, examined by
some representative OF the Maryland au-
thorities on Tuesday last and advised that
he was not suffering from that disease.
Because of such advice he applied at the
health department today for a certificate
to be able to return to work. IS
suspicious eruption was apparent at a
glance he was promptly isolated in the
room which has been provided for that pGr-
pose until more careful examination could
be made. This examination showed beyond
question, it is asserted by the health au-
thorities, that he was suffering from smaI.-
poX, and he was taken to the smallpox hos
pital The Maryland authorities will now
be notified of the exposure to which his
family nave been subjected.
pronounced "Trip.
According to Mr.. Bailey he has been
visited daily by DIR. A. NJ. Ray of Tcnley-
town. who pronounced his trouble a slight
attack of grip. The Maryland health au-
thorities have also investigated the case,
ard. it is declared. found nothing 10 in
dicate that 1t was smallpox. Feeling in
excellent condition this morning Mr.. Bailey
came to the city, stopping at DIR. Rays
office to procure from the physician a GER
titicate that his complaint was merely the
grip. Armed with this paper he proceeded
to the District building, Mr.. Baleys inten-
ton being to request the local health Off
TO notify the pension bureau. where
Mr.. Baley's father is employed, THAI there
was no reason, from a heclth standpoint.
why the latter should not be permitted 10
1eturn to his duties.
Registers Office.
Mr. Louis A. Dent, register Of wills, when
informed of the sending to the smallpox
hospital Of Mr.. Bailey, one OF his clerks.
made the following statement:
Il hope the public will not become un-
necessarily alarmed Ever since the first
knowledge of the case of Mr.. Stutler. 1
have been in constant communication with
the health office and everything is being
done to prevent any spread of the disease.
In addition to the Immediate vaccination
of the entire force of the office and its
ton of the file cases of papers and the
record books. l am preparing now. after
conference with DIR. Woodward, to nave
a special detailed fumigaticn Of all papers
that have been handled in the office dur
ing the past two weeks by any OF the en-
ployes. This morning members Of the bar
generally and officers of the title and
trust companies received the fouoWlng cir
cular from me:
1t is desired, for the protection Of the
public hereafter, to submit to a further and
special fumigation, ii possible, every paper
in this Office which has been handled dur
ing the last few weeks. So far as current
work is concerned we can ascertain what
these papers are from the file blotters
and proceedings, but we have no means OF
aScertaining what papers have been called
for simply for examination by members OF
the bar title and trust company officers.
| would be obliged, therefore, if you will
give me memorandum Of any cases which
may have been taken out of the files in the
last few weeks, say since the 1St of Febru-
ary, for your inspection.
Immediately upon hearing this morning
of the case of Mr.. Bailey l had a conversa-
ton with DIR. Woodward and DIR. Fowler.
It is not believed that there is any new
danger of contagion in the register s office
from this case, because the disease devel-
oped since Mr.. Bailey has been absent from
duty last week. DR.. Woodward does not
think that there is any occasion for further
alarm. l am personally observing my en-
tire force, and am keeping the health office
constantly advised and Informed, and the
health office is as well keeping Informed as
to all the employees and examining them at
intervals. If there are any serious develop
ments both DR. Woodward and myself
promise that the public will be promptly in
formed"