, 1888-03-08
Pest House


Daily Call Feb 40
DIR. Willison. the newly appointed
health officer, was interviewed to-day
by 4 can representative in regard to
the condition of affairs at the pest
hoa5e and about health matters in
general.
The DR.. stated that he had visited
the pest house at the request Of the
board of health, althOught ii was not
strictly the health officers duty to
have charge OF that institution. He
saii he found four men there. two of
whom We're sick and two in good
health The latter two men who are
there in quarantine are living in a
separate house some distau cc away
from the smallpox hospital. The
sick men in the hospital have both
been suffering from smallpox, but
one Of them IS now almost well, and
the other, the mate of the schooner
Course who was sent out last week,
seems to be in a fair way to recover
DIR. Willison states that there need
be no alarm over the situation; there
is really only one man sick at the
pest house and his Is mild case.
The schooner Courser at PoIt Dis
covery the vessel which brought the
disease to this city, has been placed
in quarantine for ID days and If at
the expiration of that time there are
go indications of further she viii be
released
Dr. Minkler viii remain at the pest
house during the illness of the pres
ent inmates
DIR. Harrison has been deputized to
act in the health officers place dur
ing his absence from the city at any
time.
The foregoing, from our contemporary,
after all its abuse and villification of the
retiring health officer, furnishes the
best possible refutation of its malicious
assertions. An ARGUS reporter also in
terviewcd DR.. Wilson on the day the
article was published, and obtained from
that gentleman Il statement substantially
the same, except that he desired TO say
that he had not appointed anyone as bis
deputy, but had left blanks with the
Dther physicians and authorized them
to act for him in case he were called
from town at anytime. This Is in the
nature OF an accommodation to the pub
lie as we'll as to the health officer DIR.
Minkler tried to make a similar arrange
ment nearly two years ago, but the old
board OF health disagreed as to its pro-
priety. DR.. Wilson states further that
he found the affairs of the health office
in excellent condition generally, as we'll
as that every thing at the pest house
bore evidence or competent care and
management. He thinks the persistent
nagging snd fault-fnding at his prede
cessor has heen unjust 1t had reached
such a point that if he detained vessel
longer than usual for thorough inspec-
ton he was howled at for being dis
obliging; il he hurried his work so as
to expedite the vessels trip he was
howied at for merely drawing his fee
and not doing his dnty thoroughly.
While on the subject, we sought DR..
MInkler and inquired about the half fee
he was reported to have been compelled
by Harry Tibbals to refund to a Pacific
Coast Co.'S steamer. For reply the Doc
tor showed US his write IL contract with
the company, bearing Harry Tibbals'
signature, and stipulating a So fee in
each and every ease. DIR. Minkler SAID
the fee was paid uader that contract, but
that it was subsequently represented to
him by the agent that unless refunded
according to the new schedule OF fees
inst enacted the company would take
$3.50 out of the purser's salary, where
upon the Doctor refunded $2.50-not
because compelled to, but because he
would not have the purser lose anything,
and, ont of Difference TO the new board
of health. He said the newspaper filings
over the matter We're merely q sample of
the spirit of Ill will toward himself, uni
fOrmly shown in certain quarters.