The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-10
POWERS OF THE HEALTH BOARD.


They Arc Usurped bv the Council-No
Smallpox Physician.
There is a likelihood of falling out be-
tween the ealth board of the city and the
city council. arising out of the smallpox
question. 1t all comes about this way:
On Monday smallpox case was dis
covered in the city and removed to the
pest house. There he was placed in
the custody of Resident Physician D.
Spariing and Nurse julius. Then the
board presented communication to the
council asking a sufficient appropriation
to take care of the patient and any others
that might develop as we'll as for other ex-
penses for the month. The council pared
down the items ruthlessly. The provision
for resident physician was not allowed,
the position of cook at the pest house was
done away with as we'll as that of driver Of
the ambulance. The edict was sent forth
that no supplies are to be purchased ex-
cept on a requisition from the board Of
public works. The result of all this is
dissatisfied health board.
Yesterday morning DR.. Sparkling was
notified that he was occupying place
without salary, and he, therefore. came
home. Then suspect was discovered in
the St. Charles hotel. from which the case
had been taken the day before, but there
was no ambulance in which to take him to
the suspect station, no ambulance driver
to superintendent his removal and no
resident physician to care for him. The
man was left at the hotel.
A special meeting of the board was
called tor 4 o'clock. DR.. Holmes was the
first one to arrive. He was indignant and
anxious for the meeting to begin. Then
Dr.. Shannon arrived. He, too, was not at
all pleased with the condition of affairs.
After him came DR.. Miller, smiling, good
humored and inclined to be mildly argu-
mentative in favor Of the councils action.
DIR. Holmes read the report of the
councils action from the PosT-lNTELLI-
GENCER. Said he; Il believe whether there
is one patient or ten at the pest house
there should be resident physician in
charge. A medical man is just as likely
to carry infection to the city in travelling
back and forth to the pest house in attend
ance upon a smallpox patient as anyone
else. There is just as much danger from
treating one smallpox patient as there Is
from many. At the present time We have
patient at the pest house with only Old
Julius in charge. The assistant health
officer must make daily trips back and
forth to attend on him. 1t is his duty to
do so. yet at the same time he and the
board owe duty 10 the city to preserve it
from infection. How can that be done
with him mingling among people on the
streets after handling a smallpox patlent?"
DR.. Miller said that at this time there
was no especial need of health officer at
the pest house. Continuing his remarks
at some length he said in substance: "All
our medical men belong in the city. They
must protect us where We live. There
should be public vaccination. We should
get liberal supply Of points and do all in
our power to prevent any more cases being
developed here. AS to physician carry
ing contagion, l maintain that with ordi-
nary precautions taken by medical men
there is no more danger than If the dis
ease did not exist. There is but single
patient at the pest house He can receive
suitable medical care by daily visits II he
has good intelligent nursing.
4 question arose as to whether or not
the health board should appoint resident
physician in spite of the council. DIR.
Holmes read from the charter to prove
that the board had authority TO administer
health affairs in the city and to appoint
officers
What / would like to know" said he,
lis whether We are TO administer the
health affairs or whether this council. in
which sit two or three doctors, is going TO
have the administration solely in its
hands. / believe We have charge OF the
health of this city. propose to ind out
whether We have or not
Dr. Miller said there was no doubt the
board had the authority TO appoint. but
the council nigh; stop the appropriations.
Dr.. Miller said he would wash his hands
OF the whole affair.
Then DR.. Shannon suggested that the
question should be left 10 the corporation
counsel TO decide whether or not the
board had the authority 20 appoint and
pay q resident physician. The board ex-
poets TO get an answer from Mr.. DON
worth, so that a meeting may be held to-
dav TO take action.