Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-23
ILLEGAL QUARANTINE
A Discussion of "the Quarantine
Established Against Fort Worth
by Dallas.
Are Damage Suits Likely 20 Grow Ont Of
the High-Hauded Quarantine"
Tricks
fonr wonru. Trx., Feb, y, 1870

FORT Wonfti, ThN,i Feb, y, 1880,
To the Editor OF the Gazette;
Has Dallas complied with the law in de-
claring a quarantine against Fort Worth,
and Is the law complied with by their at
tempted enforcement of the quarantine
so uniustly declared against Fort Worth?
We do not dispute the proposition
that city or locality may declare
quarantine to prevent the introduction OF
yellow fever, cholera or plague, X. $.
Art. 1890 d. You will notice yell
low fever and cholera are
mentioned, but not so with
small pos, and whyf Because smallpox Is
a disease, although contagious, yet the
spread of 1t can be prevented by yacclna-
| tion. Had 1t been the intention OF
the Legislature TO allow quarantine
against smallpox, would II not have been
so specified in the statutes2 But while
yellow fever and cholera are named ~
several places as being infectious dis
eases, 10 prevent the introduction OF
which quarantine may be established,
nowhere do we find smallpox specified.
However, grant that Dallas has a
right to quarantine against Fort Worth,
she has not complied with the law. The
law has been complied with to the extont
Of declaring the quarantine and placing a
physician upon the trains running be.
tween our city and Dallas, ostensibly TO
prevent parties from infected districts en-
tering Dallas but In reality 10 draw a
salary Of $3.50 per month.
Article 1890 j provides that within
twenty-four hours after the issuance OF Il
declaration by corporate authorities it
shall be their duty TO establish quaran-
tine stations where persons may be de-
tanned, and article 1890 X further pro-
yides they shall furnish such persons 80
detained by them at quarantine stations
with subsistence and shelter--and that
any person leaving such quarantine sta
ton may be fined.
Now the Dallas quarantine physician
compels parties TO get of trains at Arl-
ington and other stations intermediate
between here and Dallas, thus scattering
the disease and forcing upon others thai
which they do not wish themselves. Have
the authorities OF Dallas the right TO put
: off the cars at Arlington man Infected
Z with smallpox or any point In Dallas
, county, unless they first provide quar-
antlne station with proper officers u
= guard the parties put off at such station
and also food and shelter for the person
so held at such station, and II the law
: is not fully complied with, has not The
party so stopped II cause ofaction agains
! the city whose agents so stopped him?
! For an illustration: man has small
| pox; gets on the train at Fort Worth, 81
> route for Dallas; at some intermediate
, place he Is put off of the train near Sir
> Jones' house. Mr.. Jones' wife, who hap
r pens TO be out IN the yard
: contracts the disease from A an'
dies. A, in consequence o
! exposure in being thrown out withou
, shelter or food, also dies. Has not Jone
) right of action against the party VIII
, puts A OFF train near his residenceg An
also the representatives OF right OF &C
tioD against some partyf
= The railroad would be equally liabl
? with the Dallas authorities for iorclbl
election OF any man who refused TO b
put OFF at any illegally established quar-
antne station. LEX