New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-02
TO STAMP OUT DISEASE.
Health Inspectors Difficulties :
Some Vaccination Erperiences.

peeh interpreted by the more ignorant as a |
hLn% Of espionage Some have called him the
blg Spy" When a brother or sister fell sick, |
what right had this man, they asked. to NEEDLE |
with their family affairs to send uniformed |
officer TO their home to ask them impudent |
questions to inspect the patient doctor |
would, and and then TO order the sick one |
away TO the hospital?
Especially the foreign population of the city |
has viewed the Health Department with sus-
picion and distrust. In their efforts to hinder |
the work of DR.. Lederle and his inspectors they
have resorted oftentimes to ludicrous
means. On hearing the approach of a Health |
Department official a mother frequently takes
her baby from its bed and hides it in bureau
drawer or a washtub. The child may have
smallpox. scarlet fever, or measles or the
black plague, but that makes difference to
this mother. It's her baby, she boasts. and she
is not going to give it up. And when this bold
stranger in blue suit and with some gilt letters
on his hat asks her questions she not only re-
SentS but begins to fear his actions. Is he not a
sort Of detective policeman? Will he not arrest 4
her under some strange law she had never heard |
OF? Might he not drag her before some judge |
who would take away the little her husband had
saved? Such some of her thoughts.
But a these poor deluded people
realize that the health officers after all |
their best friends, and trying not only to
the lives of their loved ones, but to protect
the parents themselves from danger, they are
eager to show their appreciation every occa-
sion. AS soon they learn that one of their
ignorant neghbors has some queer look
ing disease they often rush with the information
TO the Health Department. Should they see a
child with a rash from the heat, they report the
case with instantaneous aacrity. woman for
instance. will come bounding into headquarters
with such story this:
Faith but / seen boy wild the smallpox.
th.An
1 wuz after seem i'm jest now. An his skin
is all blotched like, wild red spots"
Red spots is the extent of the diagnosis;
and this might indicate any of many
Indignantly contagious diseases an inspector is
put the case Immediately
Inspector and woman hasten to the scene. The
woman talks aloud and always. The inspector
OCCASIONALLY mutters to himself:
Another false alarm, probably. This will
make the seventh wild goose chase for me this
week"
They reach d narrow alley and plunge into its
perpetual twilight. crowd of children the
sidewalk catching sight of the inspectors uni
form and believing him some sort of policeman
trail ia behind with many whvop. A few lean
cats scamper ahead. After many turns, in
spector and women emerge in courtyard over
which float the drying underwear of a half-hun-
dred families.
Woman and inspector dive down some base
ment stairs, and the guide mods in indication
that this is the right place (she has no breath
left to talk) the official asks the white faced
Italian for her child. The mother only shrugs
her shoulders
Don't you know where your boy is?" asks
The health officer.
Donna no." is the only answer.
It's here, all right! shouts the female in
former Shes hiding it"
a search is made through the two rooms in
which a father, mother, four children and
baby sleep, eat and work. 1t is a task which
takes a strong stomach well a stout heart; |
but the inspector has both. The work is not
new to him. He has almost despared Of dis
cOyery. however, when a smothered Whimper
comes from the stove. The mother has been sit
ting its greasy top. There is no fire in it,
and at the voice she starts Involuntary. The
next moment the inspector swings back the oven
door and pulls out boy
Aye" shouts the feminine scout Look at
i'm! Look at the spots!'
Fooled again. mutters the inspector. This
is only a case of measles. But never mind" he
says 10 the mother: We're glad to find 1t out
and protect the other children in the building"
The mother, with something of a shamed face.
promises not to let the child in the streets.
and now that she begins to comprehend the