The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-21

preservation or 1mpfOWtfaenI OF tue puUlIs
health; and such. rule and regulation
have. therefore, the weight and authorif,
lof law. BY the same statute their enforce
meptis made binding upon all heaItl
| authorities in the state. Such authorities
embrace
| t Regularly constituted Boards q
Health of Incorporated cities, towns ant
| villages. / sc eL&5Ke AelNl1
| Supervisors, assessors and toaen clerk,
| of townships: and
| 3. County commissioners of counties il
which there are no township organiza
ltiens - lt $50 ~ 3@
| The officers designated In the second
| and third classes constitute, er obfcto the
! Boards of Health, for their respective ter
| ritories, in the absence of any other pro,
| vision therefor
| All and singular of these are hereby
| charged with the enforcement of this order
and it's appended rules. .SBa0ll-por can b.
| either. totally excluded from any giren com
| nsuaa6ty, or confined to the first cases, By 50
doing. If it spread beyond the first cases,
it is because of criminal neglect of these
precautions, .fs1r ,e1tcA neglect those sc1to ar
responsible should be held accountable bs
their CONSTITUENCIES
All needed power and authority for the
enforcement of these rules are provided
by the law, and should be unhesitatingly
| employed whenever necessary. Police
officers, sheriffs, constables, and all other
officers and employees of the State are
specifically enjoined by the statute to, aid
in the enforcement of such rules and regu-
lations.
III. In this enforcement, if aaquestion
should arise as between private rights or
interests and tho in taraSfc IF ha health ~
the community, the public interests must
be held paramount Therefore, to the
question, which is often asked of this
board, as to the right of recompense for
losses incurred by the destruction of ia
fected clothing or other effects, negative
answer must be returned No individual
has the right to preserve contagion or in
fection about his premises whereby the
public health may be endangered. If the
destruction of the infected material be nee
essary in order to destroy the contagion or
infection, the loss must be borne by the
owner; it cannot be recovered from the
community. s 4ez5zz5f zs
As to the policy and expediency of REIN
bursting such losses, that is question for
the consideration of the proper authorities
town, city or county; and cases might
arise in which relief would properly be
afforded-as, for example, where such
destruction would entail great hardship
upon an INDECENT person.
Should the property of an innocent
owner become infected through the preser
walton of known infected material--which
it was the duty of the health authorities to
cause to be destroyed value of such
property, If 'destroyed to protect the pub
lie health, may be recovered under the
constitutional provision that private prop
erty shall not be taken for public use or
benefit without just compensation. This,
however, applies only to the property of
persons who are not in any wise response
BILE for the contagion, and who have taken
precautions to prevent or avoid
it. $3.50
". 1t is competent for local boards of
health, as above defined, to incur expense
for the vaccination of those who are unable
to pay for the same; and they may, also,
make such other expenditures, as in the
exercise of sound discretion, may seem
prudent and necessary either to effect
cure or TO prevent the spread of any cpl
lemic contagious or infectious disease
Expenses SO incurred should be paid out
Of the general fund of the municipal body
Clown, city or COMMUNICATING the same
Concert of action between neighboring
towns or communities, whose sanitary in
'erests are often identical, is strongly en-
Joined upon the health authorities Eric
ion, sclashing of authority and unnecessary
expenses may thus be avoided. Where
here is no medical man upon board of
health, the cooperation of the county medi-
al officer should be secured;s or, if this be
a competent and legally-eiIa-
flied physician should be employed II a |
district or locality become seriously infec-
ed, better work will be secured, with less
hanger of the contagion being spread, if |
inch district or locality be put in charge of |
me medical officer, instead of allowing Sc |
Feral physicians to visit individual patients |
or families Such officer should be selec- |
ed with an eye not only to his medical |
skill and experience, but also TO his know |
edge and ability as q sanitary executive
Local boards and authorities are strong |
y advised against the policy of conceal |
nent. Smallpox cannot be suppressed by |
ienying its existence. II aeaH out, more |
than murder. Official reticence
n this is not only useless TO protect com
nercial interests and reputation, but it is |
n the highest degree mischievous, IN that |
t begets false confidence, which may lead |
he innocent andlunwary into such danger !
Is an honest announcement of the facts
would have warned them to avoid. Insist
Upon prompt publicity in every instance.
The following rules are believed to cover
very important detail, and are part and
parcel Of this ORDER, TO be strictly enforc-
I'd IN appropriate cases. A copy should be |
eft IN every house where there is a case of
mallpox and their republication in the local
'apers, or otherwise, is recommended. By |
his means more ready obedience and in |
cooperation will be secured. of the |
rst Importance in the present emergency |
No disease can be so sureIy preueatcd or
as Small Pon. It's existence en- |
argues carelessness on. ignorance. |
The latter may be pardoned in immigrant |
aborers and peasants; either as aaercasa5le
q 6t5ay 1mertcdn citizen;
By order of the Board;
JOHN III. RAUcH, NJ D., S'v.