Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-06-21
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE q. 1895
A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.

FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE Fl. 1895.
A STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The costly and vexatious experience
Staunton has had under the health laws
as they exist in Virginia-or rather in the
incorporated towns thereof, for the State
law has practically little OF nothing to dc
in the matter-has sharply called attention
to the need of State Board of Health
with we'll defined and vigorous powers. As
the law now stands. any chartered commu-
. nifty, however small, and with officials OF
however little judgment can. without
making the slightest investigation, and
depending wholly on rumor. paralyze the
trade of any city suspected OF infectious
OF contagious disease, by declaring a
quarantine against it. No responsibility
whatever attaches to the authorities for
their exercise of so grave and dangerous
privilege. That such authority, which is
autocratic in it's character, may often he
vested in persons not properly equipped
for it's exercise. goes without saying. 1t is
necessary that this state of affairs. where
few panicked officials may do irreparable
injury without particle OF official lnfor-
nation on which to base their action,
should be put an end to by a State law
which provides better mode.
We are indebted to Mr.. Charles M. Gal
laher of the Office of the Secretary OF State
of West Virginia, and formerly an esteem
ed citizen of Staunton. for copy OF the
.sStatutes Relating to Public Health I'M
der which the State Board of Health OF
that State exists. The Board con
sists of two physicians from each congress
sional district, appointed by the Governor.
The professional ability of the members is
assured by the provision that only physic-
ians 'swho have practiced medicine not
less than twelve years continuously Shall
be eligible. The Board organizes every two
wears by the election of a President and
Secretary from among it's members, and
the latter officer must, on request OF the
Local Board of Health, visit a locality adj
wise with them and adopt such measures
for the suppression of any infectious OF
contagious disease as may exist. The
Board is empowered to establish strict
quarantine at such place as it may deem
such action needful The Board must IL
every county establish a Local Board Of
Health, the physician of which shall be
deemed an agent of the State Board, but to
be paid by the county. AS soon as Local
Board has declared a quarantine it must
report it to the State Board which, if il
deems no such necessity exists, shall de
clare the quarantine void. The State
Board has the power to establish OF end a
quarantine in any locality without refer
ence to the action of the local board. All
action with reference to quarantine, either
the establishing OF raising thereof, is to be
taken only after examination by the Secre
tary of the State Board. The State Board
is clothed with full authority to carry out
all it's measures. The State Board is con
stituted corporation under the name OF
1.-The State Board of Health OF West Vir
ginia, !" and as such corporation may SUI
and be sued.
The Importance of some such act as this
is manifest. The power of quarantine il
thereby put into the hands of medical
experts and Of corporation which may be
held accountable for its exercise. 1t can
not be exercised with panicky haste by de
moralized village officials; it cannot he kept
up after the necessity for it has passed
away, nor can it lie used for mercenar.
numerical purposes. The simple eXis-
/ s4ce of contagious OIL infectious disease
y in a community is not sufficient cause fol
E quarantine, nor is the fact that a few cases
appear after the disease is mastered a sufii-
Gent cause for its maintenance.
The entirely Irresponsible way in which the
power of quarantine may now be exercised
cannot he better illustrated that the pres
ent position of Stanton with reference to
our neighbor Charlottesville. 1t IS current
= ly reported here, and has been for many
days, that small poX exists on the edge OF
CharlOttes ville-several cases of it. 1.-THE
Mayor of StauntOn were, without any in
yestigation, to declare aquarantine against
Charlottesville, and that fact were tele-
graphed over the country, that town would
find its business paralyzed within twenty
four hours and the most absurd rumOrs
afoat regarding the condition of affairs
within its limits. What possible remedy
could Charlottesville have in such case :?
None whatever. What mode of escape
from the quarantine ? None.
1t is clear that there should he legislation
by our next General Assembly concerning
such a situation OF affairs as now exists
There should be a Board Of Health eStab-
lished with well defined and supreme pow
ers in all matters concerning the public
health, and the local board of health
should, as in West Virginia, be made a
part of it. and its power, too, should be su-
parior to thoseof the officials Of the county
or town in which it is located.
A MODET, SOTJTIT G1POTTN1