Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1894 — TO GET RID OF THE PEST. [ARTICLE]

TO GET RID OF THE PEST.

Clothing- Men Confer with State Health Secretaries at Chicago. By the concerted action of the health officers of Illinois, Ohio. Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana, small-pox is to be stamped out of Chicago and the West. Ata meeting of the secretaries of the various State boards of health' held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Chieago, a committee of clothing manufacturers was present to confer about measures to prevent the spread of small-pox through clothing made in the infected sweatshop districts. The clothing manufacturers’ committee was cho-en at a meetir g of fiftyfive manufacturers held earlier in the day. Resolutions were introduced to the effect that an,embargo be laid against clothing made in Chicago unless the State board of health maintain an efficient daily inspection of all places in the city where garments are made. Commissioner Reynolds said the prevalence of smallpox was, relatively to the population, far less to-day than at former periods. The highest mortality was in 1882, with 3,611 cases and and 1,292 deaths. During 1894 up to Thursday night, the cases numbered 1,459. The popu atlon in 1882 was 560,939 as against l,(5t0.000, now. while Chicago was not then the world’s focal point as it is to-day. World’s Fair visitors undoubtedly' introduced the smallpox. Last July three cases were found piles apart, since which time the city has not been free irom the disease, and it is still 1 eing imported. The first; cases were discovered last fall and prevented from spreading by health department measures. Smallpox never reappeared in premises once disinfected by the department. A canvass of the worst districts is now in progress and from 5,000 to 15,000 people are vaccinated daily.