Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-24

in attehdlHee at= the ely PPsEhoasa, il5an interview given out to report ei fer the Graphic Wednesday morn. ing. takes occasion To emphatica!ly deny allegations contained in ccrtatn rUmors that have gained currencey on tine streets relative to the condi. ton of the pesthouso and he treat ment accorded the smallpox patients there.
 in speaking of tue matter, which he did af his own volton, Dl Black well sald:
 ] want first to correct ali erroneous impression that has been spread over lhe city to the effect that the patents at the city pesthousc arc receiving no medical or other attention AS am the attending physician at the pesthouse, l want to say that the pa. tents have been given every care which medical science and skill can bestoW Until recently there were 'iiiS iN' SilltiiiiiJh I'sit lNiiio 1Olilllltt in the pesthouse, and as these seemed tC be gett n@ along very we'll I visited them only every other day; but since the new batch of people have been taken there. both as patients and for detention. l have been visiting the place daily, and will continue to do so as long as my services are requir- ed that much. During each trip to the place, I make most thorough per sonal inspection of the promises, en- tering every room in the bu lding, ev- on including the kitchen. where make daily inquiry concerning the food and it's preparation. The rooms are secured after a patient has been removed, thoroughly fumigated, and otherwise kept in the most cleanly condition The bedcloth ng receives the minutest care, being kept clean and in the best possible condition The sheets are changed daily, thor oughly cleansed, and the patients gowns are also washed daily
 "The comfort of the inmates of the house is looked after by me in per son, and l can testify to the fact that they want for nothing reasonable. So far as I know the city has never ia led to purchase whatever was asked of ii for the benefit of the sufferers and those detained at the house. New stoves have just been put into the rooms, all of which are kept warm and comfortable. There is ample bed ding for all purposes. We have lack cd sheeting until recently, but that has been procured now. A dozen blankets and the same number of comforts were taken to the place this week, affording all needed bed cloth ing for these now confined there. But in addition to the city's property, ev- cry patient who has so far been car r ed there, has insisted upon taking his CT her own bedding, including ev- en mattresses, and this request has been acceded to by the authorities Thus il will be seen that they are not suffering for want of bed clothing.
 As 10 the house itself want to say that the rumor to the effect that it contains only three rooms, in which we have huddled all inmates, regardless of sex, race or previous condition of seryitude, is erroneous. The building contains eleven rooms end is two stories high. These rooms are large, ample and comfortable. There are now seven smallpox pa- tents confined in the pesthouse Each one of these patients is given sep arate room, which is kept in thor Cnghly clean cond tion and comfort able as it is possible to make it. An ether room is used as kitchen, and the three remaining rooms are used for the det tontion of those who have been eposed to the disease. The two upstdifS ftoihS dfe set apart Tor the women. We do not only not force these inmates to inhab't the same rooms, but We absolutely prohibit it. The guard on duty has received the most positive instructions concerning this matter. Even children are kept separate from each other.
 
 T have taken particular pains to ask each and egery patient daily if he CT che is reee wing the right kind of Care and treatment. They have all united in declaring that they sufferel for n0thing. The greatest care has