The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-24
OTHER CASES DEVELOP
CITY BOARD OF HEALTH DOING ITS
BEST WITH SMALLPOX.
Special Council Meeting May Not BE
Held Before Monday Night In
the Suburbs.

Although the smallpox situation was
made more acute yesterday by the discOv-
cry of additional cases, and the danger to
general public health is stated by cOnserva-
tive doctors to be increasing alarmingly,
the City Board of Health must deal with
the emergency with tied hands because of
the refusal of the Democratic members of
the Council to consider an appropriation
ordinance which would allow the construc
ton of temporary contagiOn hospital for
the use OF patients afflicted with the
scourge. The Republican members of the
Council earnestly anxious to tighten the
burdens of the Health Board. found yester-
day that il would have been fruitless to at
tempt 10 meet last night and secure unani-
nous agreement on the ordinance. Thomas
a. Wynne. chairman Of the finance commit
tee OF the Council, who has charge of the
emergency measure. spent yesterday after
noon i'm an endeavor TO ascertain if the SEN
timent of the minority had changed enough
TO warrant the calling Of another special
meeting and the results of his inquiries
were discouraging.
\ GRAVE MISTAKE
AT present." said Mr.. Wynne yesterday,
81 cannot say when the next special meet
ing will be held-probabIy not until next
Monday night. Mayor BoOkWaIter will be
home by that time. and one excuse of the
Democrats for not supporting the ordinance
will have been removed. My opinion, stated
last night. has not changed. l think it was
a mistake of the gravest nature for the
minority TO kill the hospital ordinance. L
am afraid events will prove that
The conduct Of the Democrats is I'M
precedented' ne continued: In other
cities where the danger of an epidemic
from hers
of the Council have laid aside petty pOliti-
cal differences and have voted for the pres
ervation of public health and safety. a
councilman is more than politician There
are times when he must rise above the
limits of party politics for the good of citi-
zens generally. There are times also when
ne must take into consideration the views
of more people than are contained within
the limits of the ward he may represent.
when physicians of the experience and
repute Of the members and the secretary of
the Indianapolis Board Of Health assure
the extreme, that unless they be provided
with proper facilities for the care of small
pox patients they cannot answer for the re-
suits, !, for one am willing TO take their
statements as fact"
The latest victims of smallpox whose
cases have been reported TO the Board of
Health are: James Brown and James Gar
rett, both cOlOred, living in the same house
at 1913 Yandes street; Bert Edilen. OF Sl2
WOOdaWn avenue, also colored, and James
Whitaker. colOred, OF 623 West St. Clair
street The case reported from WoOdlawn
avenue was responsible for an order issued
by the Board of Health yesterday to the
doctors Of the City Dispensary for the vac
cination OF the pupils in school No. 10 for
colored children.
IN THE SUBURBS.
The health officers now fear an outbreak
OF smallpox in Irvington. Tuesday a col
ored girl named Anne Taylor. who came to
Irvington from Evansville. went to DIR.
Knappe and asked treatment for a trouble
some breaking out on her face. DR. Knappe
noticed the resemblance of the girls face
TO that OF patient in the early stages of
smallpox and he reported the case to the
town Board OF Health. 1t notified Dr. Eu-
gene Buehler of the City Health Board.
yesterday. and. with DR.. Ridpath, DR..
Buehler went to IrvingtOn and examined
the girl Both doctors declared that the
case strongly resembles smallpox, and i'm
the interests OF safety they established a
quarantine at the house. The Taylor girl
lives in the family OF George Armstrong i'm
the eastern part of town, where most OF
the colored residents live. The members OF
the family have been exposed. it is stated
as well as many of the neighbors.
Late last night DIR. Buehler investigated
the report or case from BrightwOod and
found that Mrs: Lizzie Parker. wife of a
brakeman on the Big Four Railroad is
sick with typical case OF the disease
The house was Quarantined and it was de-
cided TO call Parker home
The quarantining OF Mrs Porter will No
doubt cause CONSERVATION among her
friends at Brightwood many OF whom have
been in 10 see her during the illness from
which she IS now convalescent. Her hus-
band who is on the road was not at home
yesterday. Mrs. Porter visited friends al
Muncie and became i'll. The nature of the
illness was not known TO her yesterday
when IL was explained by DIR. Buehler. Her
case is very mild and IL is thought there
will be but little danger OF an outbreak OF
the disease In the suburb
In the absence OF a hospital for SMALLPOX
patients the Board OF Health has decided
to let those afflicted remain I'm their owr
houses. There is other way OF meeting
the situation, although IL increases tn
danger OF an epidemic There are now
eight cases quarantined in private houses
and IL Is stated that there is a good chance
for the thirty-fvs or forty people that have
been exposed to catch the disease.