Evening star., 1902-02-26
A Total of Sixteen Cases.

There were three cases in all reported yes
tay These with the case unearthed to-
day, bring the total number Of patients at
the smallpox hospital up to sixteen.
The hospital, which is back of the jail on
the Eastern branch. as at present constl-
tuted, will accommodate thirty patients nor
mally, but total Of forty can be COM
fortably taken care Of. The health au-
thorities have recently had the old small
pox hospital nearby put in good shape so
far the exterior Is concerned so that
If the emergency should arise, the old build
ing would be available for convalescent pa
tients accommoda tions being had for
twenty-five or thirty. All of the hospitals
of the city have isolation wards connected
with them.
The smallpox cases in the city at pres
ent are all traceable to outside sources,
the health officer declares, and he feels
that the authorities Of neighboring cities
have been lax in their efforts to prevent
the spread Of the disease. People exposed
to the disease, 1t is said, have been allowed
to go undetained in other cities and to
leave the city without word of warning
being sent abroad.
Case Reported This Morning.
The case reported to the health Office
this morning was that of Robert c. Mitch
ell, young white man, twenty-four years
of age, residing at 1O17 7th street north
west He was taken at once to the small
pox hospital and the house where he lived
has been placed in quarantine. The health
officer is investigating the case this after
noon.
Yesterday afternoon white man, Harry
Everly, twenty five years old, employed at
Deitz's restaurant at 2}9 New Jersey ave-
nue. northwest, was found to be suffering
from the disease. When the authorities
investigated the case further they dscov-
cred that he had contracted the disease
from James Hudson. colored man also
employed at the restaurant. who had had
smallpox in mild form and was then con-
valescent. Hudson had complained Of feel
ing unwell and there had been an eruption
on his face. He felt able to remain at
work and did DR.. Woodward declares
that the greatest danger of the community
lies in patients suffering from a mild type
of the disease. Often they not Ill
enough to be necessarily confined to their
beds and do not consult a physician. In
the meantime they go about. coming in
contact with hundreds of people every
day, any one of whom may contract the
disease and suffer from severe type of it.
Both Evsrley and Hudson were at once
taken to the hospital and the saloon was
pla ced in quarantine. When it became
known among the customers of the place
that smallpox had been discovered in the
restaurant there was something of a sensa-
tion. and this morning the health office was
fairly Stampeded by people who desired to
be vaccinated. Practically all of those
who applied were DeitZ customers. The
next few days will be anxious ones with
them. The term of smallpox incubation is
sixteen days The Deitz Gust tomers do not
know when they may have come in contact
with the disease and alarmed in de-
gree.
A large number of census office clerks
were accustomed to take lunch at this
place. and preventive measures were taken
at that place at once. All clerks who might