New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-25
doctors vACC|NATE
ENTIRE NE|CHBORH0OD
Case of Smallpox in West 57th
Street ArouSeS Board OF
Health to Action.
WOMAN UNDER OBSERVATION
Negro Had Been Treated II
Washington and Recurrence
of Ailment in This City
Caused Discovery.

The block in West 51th street, be-
tween Ninth and Tenths avenues, was
thrown into state of panic last night.
Grace Brce. negro. Of No. 426 West
9th street. was suffering from small
poX. Within an hour after the physl-
clans at the Vanderbilt Clinic, in West
59th street, had pronounced the case a
genuine one, a small army of physicians
from the Board Of Health went through
the neighborhood. vaccinating every per-
son they found. No other cases were
discovered. but the Board of Health Will
make another house to house canvass
to-day. supplied with quantities of anti
toxin.
AS proof that the corps Of physicians
Of the Board of Health are thoroughly
aroused over the appearance OF the
disease within the city limits, 1t was
announced that every telephone operator
in the Columbus exchange had peen
vaccinated az precaution This ex-
change building Is in West oSth street
directly back of Mrs. Brice's home.
Mrs Brice has been in this city only
two days. having come from Washing
ton TO visit her mother. The day before
she left Washington Mrs. Bricc had been
10 a hospital in that city. owing to n
slight eruption which had appeared on
her skin. She says she was told there
that she had a slight skin disorder, and
was discharged
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Brice felt
ill and decided to go To the Vanderbilt
Clinic The physicians in that institu-
ton made a careful examination, after
which they decided that the woman was
suffering from smallpox. She was sent
at once 10 the Willard Parker Hospital,
in East 10th street.
Again Mrs. Brice submitted to an eX-
animation, AT the end OF which the physi-
clans there decided TO send her to the
Kingston Avenue Hospital, in Brooklyn.
where contagious diseases are received.
She is now under observation by the
hospital staff.
The house surgeon at the Vanderbilt
Clinic communicated with the Board Of
Health and action was Immediately
taken 10 prevent a possible spread of the
disease. DR.. Alonzo Blauvelt assistant
sanitary superintendent detailed DR..
Dunseith. chief superintendent Of the de-
partment. to take fifteen physicians from
the Board of Health staff and make a
house to house search of the neighbor-
hood in which Mrs. Brice was staying.
Within few minutes after this order
had been issued the physicians were vac
cinating all whom they encountered in
the block.
Many of the occupants of the houses
in 57th street were away last night, but
each member Of the families who live in
any house on the block will be made to
undergo the treatment to-day. As an
added preCaution the Board Of Health
physicians visited all the houses on the
north side Of the street
After completing their inspection of
18th and 9th streets the physicians
went 10 the Columbus telephone ex-
change and compelled each girl in the
building 10 submit To having the anti
toxin injected. The manager of the ex-
change informed the physicians that
about forty girls were employed in the
building in tie day, and about thirty at
night All the day operators will be
treated by the Board of Health physi-
clans to-day. as soon as they report for
duty.
1t is estimated that about 80 persons
were treated by The flying squadron from
the Department of Health. Each physi-
clan was accompanied by patrolman
from the West 4Tth street station, in
case any victim showed a Discrimination
10 have his arm scratched.