The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-05
SMALLPOX IN NEW YORK.
Problem to Take Care of Thousands Oi
 Persons.

EGEbV1S
 New York. Jan. 4.--The problem of taking care of the thousands of unem- ployed in this city has assumed such proportions that Dr. Walter Bensel, sanitary superintendent of the Health Department, has ordered a close exam ination of the habitues of the lodging houses, as it is feared by many that an epidemic of smallpox will result from the overcrowded condition in this weather.
 Although Dr. Darlington does not fear an epidemic. DF. Bensel began his investigation last week. when his in- spectors swooped down on the more crowded and cheaper places to exam inc the patrons. all of whom were at once vaccinated.
 A small per centage of the frequent CTS of the no lodging houses in the city were examined by the doctors, who w1n continue their work in the early morning hours, when the men are ta- ken from the beds and vaccinated. Dr. Bensel said:
 '"The big army of unemployed in New York threatens to bring on an epidemic of smallpox, which might prove serious if we do not take imme diate. steps to prevent it. At the mu- nicipal lodging house. a corps of physi- clans is in attendance and all the ap- plicants for beds are vaccinated. While the number of lodging houses has not increased materially in five years, there are more than a hundred such places on our lists.
 houses are about as good as can be had at present, and they were all i'm spected before December i. On that day the licenses were renewed, and we have that part of the situation well in hand. The mild weather of the last month and the tremendous increase of lodging house patrons give me reason to believe that smallpox will be cpl demic unless the inspectors take every means of precaution. The lodging houses, which are overcrowded, are mostly in upper Third Avenue and in the Bowery. These places will be in- spected and every measure will be ta- ken to vaccinate the men if it Is nec- essary for me to have an inspector sta tioned in every lodging house..
 pr. Darlington says there Is little likelihood of New York suffering from an epidemic such as is at present prev alent in Kingston, and Is due. accord ing to medical precedents. to re-appear here early in 1908.
 pr, Darlington in discussing the subject at his home last night said he had no fear that the disease would get a foothold here this winter, provid- ing the people were vaccinated accord ing to the rules of the department.
 "Smallpox," said Dr. Darlington, breaks out in a given place about every five years, and New York is due for a visitation this winter. There is nothing to fear, however, providing the people take the proper precautions in regard to vaccination"
 He added that the precautionary methods which the health department was taking were so stringent that he looked for no outbreak of the disease.
 It was estimated that twelve hundred men received their share of bread and coffee from the Bowery Mission, No. 65 Bowery, yesterday morning. More than four hundred men applied to the mission on New Years Eve for lodg- ing. Nearly all of these men were taken care of. although several were forced to spend the night in the streets a the lodging houses were filled at Il o'clock.
 At the Bowery Mission the smallpox epidemic was also discussed. and it was said that the least infection would spread the disease it if once became prevalent. It was also explained thai the lodging houses are so crowded that the disease would gain at foot hold easily, and then it would be car ried throughout the city. At present the health department has all it's avail a1 z inspector ot out! yhAI 'in ogoiOs, an outbralK