The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-06-13

COUNTY, SuDStllGOL4NOl1O VI hNosASh3 ~N
upon the death or recovery or removal
of such person, the rooms occupied
and the articles used by him shall be
disinfected by such householder in the
manner indicated in section nine. Any
person n~eglecting Or refusing to COM
ply with any of the above provisions
shall be deemed guilty of Il misde-
meanor, and upon conviction shall be
fined not less than one dollar nor more
than fifty dollars
Sec. II. When a physician knows
that a person whom he is called to visit
is infected with shall pox, diphtheria,
scarlet fever, typhus fever, yellow
fever or cholera he shall Immediately
give notice thereof to the health officer
or mayor, if the sick person be in a city
or incorporated town, otherwise to the
county superintendent of heath, and if
he refuses or neglects to give such no
tice of it in twenty four hours he shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall
be fined for each offence not less than
ten nor more than twenty five dol
lars. = r 4
The purpose of these enactments is to
assist every householder in preventing
the spread Of these diseases to other
members of his own family, and to also
prevent his permitting their transmits
| sion to his neighbors through ignor-
ance, indifference or obstinacy. If I
have a case of scarlet fever, we will
say, in my family and fail, for any
reason, to let it be generally known,
and a child Of my neighbor, ignorant
of danger, comes into my house and
contracts the disease; or, If from care
lessness or c~ontrariness, or from an IN
willingness to take a little trouble, or
in order to save a small expense l
should neglect to disinfect the cloth
ing, toys, etc, Of my little one, and his
playmate should take the disease from
them (as he is more than likely to do
and die? In what light would the par
ents of that child an only one, perhaps
have Alright to regard. me-who knew
| the danger who knew the law and con.
| s~equently my duty, and failed to do it2
AS unintentionally, Of course, and indi
rectly, but none the less actually, the
| cause of his death. 1t would be O fear
full thought to carry through the years
of the future that, owing to my indif-
ference or negligence-for as the head
of my household l am responsible-the
life Of one or more of my own children,
or of my friend and neighbor, had been
needle8sly sacrificed.
My reader, this is a very grave mat
ter-a matter in which is involved no
less an issue than life and death. 1t is
a thoroughly established fact that iso
lation and d~isinfection will check, if
not altogether prevent, the spread of
infectious diseases. You are now in
possession of a knowled of the law of
the State which clearly and explicitly
defines your duty in the premises, and
the Board of Health hopes and believes
you will do it. Will you not promptly
notify the health officer or mayor of
your town, or the superintendent of
health of your county, of the occur
renee in your family of either of the
contagious diseases enumerated, and
carry out thoroughly the instructions
for quarantine and disinfection which
he will furnish you? In the interest
of humanity and for the sake of a quiet
conscience on your own part, we are
sure you will.
RICHARD H. LEWIS, Secretary.