The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-04
VACCINATION FOR ALL
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED SUBMIT ON
THE FIRST DAY.
At This Rate 1t Would Not Take Long
to Vaccinate the Whole Popula-
tiOn-PesthOuse Death.

Twenty-Five hundred people were vaccin-
ated in Indianapolis last night. The first
trial of Mayor Bookwalter's free vaccina-
ton scheme proved so popular that large
number of the stations exhausted supplies
before they exhausted their subjects. Yes
terday afternoon the young doctors who
volunteered to accept assignments at the
stations called at the Board of Health.
Each was given forty portions of virus.
forty shields and an antiseptic, and these
were taken to each particular station. A
few who misunderstood the instructions
failed to call. and when they appeared at
the stations minus the supplies they found
a number of subjects ready for their work.
Because of this probably a hundred were
not vaccinated who wanted to be.
The bulk of the subjects called between
73O and 8 o'clock. Some stations near
workshops were visited the shops closed.
At the engine house on Washington street,
beyond West street line was in waiting.
The supplies were exhausted early and
the remaining subjects left to seek other
stations. Among the number were many
children.
Superintendent Jobes, of the City Hos
pital, called ten stations, located in various
parts of the city, last night, to ascertain
how the scheme had worked 1t showed an
average of twenty-four subjects for each
place. Eleven different places were called
by others, which, added to those called by
DIR. Jobes, gave an average of twenty-three.
1t is estimated that an average of twenty
throughout the city would be fair.
There were in all 125 stations at engine
houses and drug stores. For these five
thousand portions of vaccine virus were
provided, and. at the average accepted, half
Sanitarian Buehler that from 20 to % per
cent. of the population of indianapolis is
not vaccinated AT this rate it would take
twenty nights to vaccinate all.
VACCINATION FOR ALL.
1.-The only question with the health de-
partment'' said DR.. Buehler, sis to provide
vaccination for all. We announced three
nights in order to test public sentiment on
the matter. The first night shows that the
public is alive to the Importance of vac
cination and accepts vaccination cheerfully.
I have heard from a number Of stations to-
night. The supplies furnished were made
quate. We will make larger provision for
the other nights If public interest is main
tanned we will keep these stations going
just so long as there is public demand,
and the greater the demand the greater
pleased the health department will be.
THE people should not misunderstood
| the purpose of this scheme. 1t is not a
| charitable thing, intended only for the
| poor. 1t is organized largely to convenient
| ~ give every DOQy opportunity W iCCCNc
vaccination for the public good. In this
| spirit expect full response. If 1t is
| necessary to keep open thirty days, or from
| 6 to IL o clock, arrangements will be made
Ample opportunity will be given to all.
IF, on the other hand, there should be
! those who will not accept vaccination
either privately or by this public scheme
| then the board will make vaccination COM
pulsory. If the entire population of Indian
apolis vaccinated, it should be-
smallpox would be foreign to this city,"
The new building at the contagious hos
| pital grounds was finished yesterday, and
will be ready for occupancy to-day. 1t was
built under the superintendent of Charles
Glover, deputy clerk of the Board of Public
| Works 1t has a capacity of fifty patients
Der of new cases was diminishing, and that
with general vaccination the number would
| be greatly reduced.
| Mayor Bookwalter yesterday called or
| the Lafayette Call to retract story print
| ed i'm it that Indianapolis considering
| ordering general quarantine. His tele.
gram said:
| My attention has been called to the
special telegram from Indianapolis in Mon
days Call, stating that this city was over
run with smallpox. In the interest OF
| truth, in which as reputable newspaper
you must believe, / ask you to deny this
| falsehood. Indianapolis, at this hour, ha:
| less than 225 cases. The Board of Health
has a report of every case, and by careful
| house-to-house canvass by the police We
| know that no cases are being concealed
| The disease is thoroughly under control
and the local health authorities have never
| even considered the establishing of a gen
| eral quarantine"