The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-05
NOT A new CASE FOUND
POLICE MAKE A CAREFUL CANVASS
OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Ii Is Surmised from Their Reports
that the Reports of Smallpox Have
Been Grossly Exaggerated.

The canvass of the city by the police de-
partment for suppressed cases of smallpox
was completed last night at the O'Clock
roll call when the patrolmen turned in
their books and reported that not single
case had been discovered. The policemen
had been going from house TO house since
Monday morning, and the entire city was
covered by last night at o'clock. All the
books were then turned over to Superin-
tendent Taffe. who will give them to the
Board of Health this morning. In a num-
Der of the districts not one case of sickness
was found. These districts were not con-
fined to the uptown districts, where hotels
and business houses located, but were
in the residence districts, where families
are close together. Mr.. Taffe was much
pleased last night when he received all the
books and found that not one new case of
smallpox had been discovered. He said
that in several of the districts where sick
ness was found in families record was
made and the name of the family was sent
to DR.. Buehler. If the family had an at
tending physician his name was also taken,
and his diagnosis of the case recorded. The
most rigid investigation was made, and.
despite the alarming reports made by some
people as to the number of smallpox cases
in the city, 1t was found that the reports
had been greatly exaggerated.
On Tuesday night Superintendent Taffe
sent out patrolmen with red lanterns to
place before each quarantined house.
There were 108 lanterns furnished. but five
of these were not taken out. When the
patrolmen made their reports yesterday
afternoon four houses were reported as out
of quarantine which demonstrated that the
disease is waning. The lanterns will be
taken out each night and placed at quar-
antined houses until the disease in those
houses has been eradicated. Mr.. Taffe yes
terday said the vigilance shown by the In
dianapolis police in conjunction with the
workings of the Board of Health, was such
that the disease could not have chance to
spread. Every family in the city was
visited regardless of social position. A
record of each individual of the family, the
help, and others connected with the homes,
was made. In the three days that the in
vestigation was on Mr.. Taffe, in company
with Captain Hyland and the sergeants on
duty. kept sharp lookout for any in
formation OF sick people whose cases we're
not thoroughly diagnosed. If the slightest
doubt appeared in the mind of the inform
ant or the police as to persons condition
the case was Immediately sent to City
Sanitarian Buehler. who, if he did not in
vestigate IL himself, sent some other doc
tor TO the place and had the case properly
Mr.. Taffe said that all the reports re-
turned showed the city to be we'll under
the supervision of the Indianapolis Board
of Health according to the statements
made by Mayor Bookwalter and Dr.
Buehler. He said that the fact that houses
were auarantined did not mean that every
person within its walls was afflicted with
the disease. From all the reports now on
hand showing a thorough canvass of the
city il is the supposition of the police and
health departments that smallpox is under
control. The four places reported yester-
day where quarantine had been raised are:
sic Athon street, 903 Coe street, ia Locke
street and SS4 Rhode Island street.