Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-19
BROKEN HEALTHLAWS
School Principals and Big Doctors
Placed Under a Ban, and
EVEN THREATENED WITH ARREST
Pupils Given Permits to Return in Defiance
of the Statutes.
A BOGUS DEATH CERTIFICATE ISSUED

Every school principal in Pittsburg is
under the shadow of warrant, according to
the Health Bureau. They have been re-
ceiving children from families in which
there has been diphtheria and scarlet fever,
and even the patients themselves inside of six
days after convalescence. The law expressly
states that. children living in a house where
there is scarlet fever or diphtheria must
not return to school within 80 days after
death or convalescence. Physicians are
more to blame than the principals, for they
give these certificates within one-ffth OF
the time permitted by law.
A number of methods were used to stop
this practice, but it was still kept up, and
he health of all the school children in the
city endangered. Yesterday Chief Clerk
Wilbur F. McKelvy, of the Health Bureau,
sent his inspectors to every school, and the
principals were instructed to put out all
children who were attending school in vio-
lation of the health laws, and that if any
more violations were found criminal pro-
ceedings would be commenced at once.
The whole matter was brought up by
Penn avenue doctor who had a case of diph-
Health. Another doctor was called in, but
in four days the patient, which was 9-year-
old child, died. The family wished to bury
it in Uniontown, and the doctor to secure
transportation for the body returned a cer-
tificate giving Group as the cause of DEATH
On this shipping permi. was given, and
the body was shipped without any precau-
tion against contagion. The State Board of
Health does not allow the shipment of such
bodies under any conditions.
Gave Bogus Death Certificate.
The trick was not discovered for several
days, when the first report of the case was
discovered, and comparison showed it was
the same case. An inspector was sent to
the consulting doctor When asked what
was the cause of death he said: ''Didn't
the doctor give that on the death certif-
cate?'' When told that Group was the cause
given he laughed, and asked if it was not
diphtheretic Group. He was told it was
marked simple Group, and then remarked
that the case was ''pretty croupy."
Ever since that the Department of Public
Safety has been trying to find some way by
which a prosecution would be made, but
there is no possible way to accomplish it,
although such things are frequently done
and even by the best physicians. The law
on the subject says doctors must return the
true cause of death, but it is a mere regula-
ton, for it has no penalty attached.
When Chief Clerk McKelvy was seen he
said: "The law on this point is defective,
and we will find a way to have it remedied.
The only way we could make the doctor
suffer would be to bring an action in deceit
To make that effective We would have to
prove damages, and to show specific case of
person affected would be next thing to i'm
possible. In fact, it seems that doctors will
defy any law in order to keep on the good
side of their patients.
Big d .ctors Violate the Law
'It is the same thing with the permits for
school children. Why, doctors even take
the Bureau of Health books, on which is
printed 80 davs, the time specified by law
for children to remain away, and crossing
this out mark in the exact time. Doctors
often give these within six or seven days
after convalescence and the school prin-
cipal assured by physicians who
are regarded as medical authorities
take in the children. Down in the Fourth
ward Ninth street physician of large
practice, and a man of national fame, wrote
me lette: that pupils in his ward were at
tending school within less than ten days
after there had been a contagious disease at
their homes. The letter came on
Saturday, and on Monday the in
spector was sent to investigate The
first thing he received was certificate from
this very same physician stating that GER
tain pupil, having been convalescent for six
days, had q right to be admitted into the
schools, as all danger was passed. The
period of 80 days was decided on by body
of physicians, and they ought to know how
long it would take for all danger of con-
tagion to disappear. The result IS that We
will prosecute any principal who disobevs
this law. They must not pay any attention
to doctors certificates