Evening star., 1935-02-06
CITY 0UARANT|NES mrs. NORTON ASKS
1000 IN FIGHT ON SPEED|ER ACTION
SPINAL MENINGITIS ION D. c. MEASURES
U. S. Comes to Districts Chairman Chides Members
Aid on REPORTS 7 Tran of Subcommttees for
sients Are III. Delays.
TRANSFER OF PORTION mat TENDANCE BLAMED
TO FORT HUNT STUDIED FOR SLOWING PROGRAM
Hopkins Places Whole Matter in Minor Bills ReportedGavely
Hands of DR. C. E. Waller. Point and Playground Hearings
Decision Due Today. Are Called for Tomorrow.
U. S. Comes to Districts
Aid on Reports 7 Tran
sients Are Ill.
TRANSFER OF PORTION
TO FORT HUNT STUDIED
Hopkins Places Whole Matter in
Hands of DR.. c. E. Waller.
Decision Due Today.

The Federal Government today
came to the aid of the District to
prevent any spread of an outbreak Of
spinal meningitis at the District
Transient Bureau which last night
brought an order for placing most of
the 1000 transients in quarantine.
The quarantine order was issued as
q precaution when report showed
seven transients had contracted the
disease In the past six weeks. Four
Of the patients now are confined in
Gallinger Hospital and three others
were reported to have recovered.
After Richard Gebhardt, transient
director. had appealed to the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration for
aid. Harry L. Hopkins. Federal re-
lief director. placed the whole matter
in the hands of DR.. c. E. Waller of
the Public Health Service. the medical
director of the F. E. R. A.
Fort Hunt Use Proposed.
One plan under study IS to remove
as many as possible of the tranSlents
to old quarters at Fort Hunt, Va now
unoccupied. Before such a step is
taken, however, Dr. Waller will review
the whole situation. The decision is
expected this afternoon.
DR.. Waller said he did not regard
the situation as very serious" but
that because of the seven cases among
the men at the transient camps. he
said, it was necessary to take utmost
precautions.
Health Of1cer Edward ]. Schwartz
has assigned extra health inspectors
to observe conditions in the transient
quarters, and is preparing estimates
of the needed equipment and assist
ance which will be necessary If it is
decided to take cultures in the case Of
each transient Extra laboratory
equipment and medical assistance
would be needed in that case. 1t was
indicated the Public Health Service
would cooperate in this work if it is
deemed advisable.
All transierts under care OF the
Transient Bureau are affected by the
order except those lodged with private
families and small number quartered
on farm in Fairfax County, Va.
Watch Situation Closely.
officials have been watching the
situation closely quietly for weeks and
decided late yesterday to invoke quar-
antine as safeguard The order, by
prearrangement, was announced to the
men at $50 last night after dinner had
been served at the various mess halls
OF the tranSientS.
Gebhardt said he did not believe
1t would be necessary to call for police
to enforce the quarantine order, but
Commissioner Dan I. Sultan has di-
rected police officials to stand ready
to supply extra guards should they be
found necessary.
Health officials said there have been
no deaths among the transients who
contracted the disease. Officials said
they had no way of knowing at what
lodges the first cases of meningitis
developed
There are about 400 men quartered
at the transient lodge at South Cap
itol and Canal streets. At the Boys
Lodge in the 200 block of Express
court there are 208 others.
Extent of Quarantine.
Other quarters subject to the quar-
antine, Gebhardt said, are:
The building at lexington place
and @ street northeast, where 259
transients are housed; the 200 block
Of Third street, 33 transients; 300
block Of Third street, 172: 400 block
OF Fifth street, 20; 1000 block of
Georgia avenue. 221; a house near
Logan Circle, 90; 300 block of Bryant
street, "a; and the 900 block of N
street, where 80 are housed.
There are about 450 men quartered
In small hotels under contract, who
will be brought back to regular tran
sient lodges, according to plans origi-
nally scheduled. Those housed with
private families and having no direct
contact with the other transients. 1t
was explained, would not be affected
by the quarantine order.