The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-07
THE INVESTIGATORS.
The Council Committee Find Matters Are
Aboutas Stated.


From two o'clock until o'clock sat
urday afternoon the committee of the
council continued lis round of the diph-
liberia cases and the entire time was
spent in North Topeka. 1t is a note
worthy fact that Spokesman Bradford
did not in a single instance inquire of
any of the ueighbors about the enforce
ment of the quarantine rules. He al
way went directly to the house which was
under quarantine and directed his ques-
tons to some member of the fam
lily. 1t was like a magistrate request
ing the accused to convict himself.
Few people who have not had expert
ence know what the Topeka quarantine
really means. The sanitary sergeant
goes to the house in which the disease
has been located and tacks red card on
the front of the house. Then he gives
the lady of the house instructions about
keeping the children and other mem bers
of the family inside the yard and other
people out of the house. He then goes
away and the people are left to them
selves. The enforcement of the quar-
antine depends upon the people
in the house entirely aud if the
woman is alone and has several children
10 look after it is almost impossible for
her to exercise the precauti0n Eece 5sary.
She generally does her best but in spite
OF her precGution the children may slip
outside II complaint is made by the.
neighbors about the enforcement of the
quarantine, guard is sent to the house
but during the present epidemic there
have been but two men doing guard duty
in the entire city. The sanitary officer
in North Topeka has made an attempt
every day to visit all the houses where
there was iphiheria besides attending to
his other duties.
In one place Spokesman Bradford
found that the lady of the house had
been down town since the house had
been euarantined and that mem bers of
the family had driven into the country,
but still he says that he found no in
stance of The lax enforcement of the
quarantine. 1t is quite evident that Mr..
Bradford is straining to make point.
That was the only place where the pe0-
pie were ready to admit that they had
not observed the regulations
1t was found that nearly all the cases
in North Topeka are fast recovering and
there is little doubt that the disease has
been checked there. Some Of the school
rooms are nearly empty.
In some Of the Quincy shoool rooms less
than 90 pupils have been in attendance
This of itself would stop the spread OF
the disease. If the schools were closed
for two weeks it would entirely disap.-
pear.
At 500 West Gordon street, the commit
tee found that there had been criminal
negligence on the pert of some one. The
case is in a family by the name of Stew
art The child was taken sick on Mon
day. and DR.. Mitchell, the city physician,
was called. He said that the disease was
no: diphthera The family was not sat
isfied and called Dr.. Stewart. who at once
pronounced the disease diphtheria. This
was on Wednesday and the house was
not 0uarantined until Friday. DR..
Mitchell now pronounces every case s'not
diphiheria"
At 1913 Polk street, Councilman Brad
ford raped on the front doo-. It was
some time before anyone opened thu
door and then a woman's head appeared.
"We are a committee of the council
sen. out to Investigate the diphtherla,"
said Spokesman Bradford. with your
permission we would like 10 ask you a
few questions" The Third ward coun-
Gilman made one of his lowest bows.
$50 ahead" said the woman as she
opened the door wider.
How is the patient today" and the
spokesman made another bow.
= guess she is all right" replied the
woman with animation.
"Its me. have just cooked duck