Evening journal., 1897-11-16
REPORT ALL CASES.

The secretary of the Board Of Health
declares that the department investi-
gates every case OF contagious or in
fectious disease which is reported to it
by the physicians or anyone else. This
statement includes diphtheria- He de-
clares that IL diphtheria Is as prevalent
as is popularity supposed that the pny-
sicians are not keeping the department
posted on the matter When asked If
there was not way to make physicians
report such cases, he replied that they
could be prosecuted in the Municipal
Court IL they failed to do so. Further
than this, he said that if any person
hearing OF a case Of diphtheria in his or
her neighborood he would be glad to re-
ceive notice of the same by telephone or
by mail, and speedy investigation
would follow, and If it was found that
the attending physician had failed to
make a report of the case prosecution
would follow.
Here is an excellent opportunity for
persons who wish TO save their children
harmless from the ravages of this dread
disease. Just as soon as they hear of a
case in their neighborhood they should
report it, and if the members of the af-
flicted family are not exercising due
precaution to prevent its spread they
should report that fact, too. The board
declares that it has not facilities to fer
ret out such cases. It is dependent upon
reports sent in by physicians and 9TH
ers. II physicians have business reasons
for not doing it the families nearby who
are threatened by their dereliction of
duty must take the matter in hand and
expose both the cases and the physi-
clans at the same time.
1t is no time to stand on ceremony
when life may be the forfeit. Send in
to the board the news regarding every
case now known to exist and the name
of the attending physician. If the con
ditions surrounding the same are ag-
gravating and complaint does not bring
relief, send the complaint to the news
papers and they will cheerfully aid in
the work of stamping out a disease the
lax methods in dealing with it.
There is in Wilmington a woman
physician of prominence. She has a
large and lucrative practice Several
days ago she discovered a case OF diph-
iberia in one of the homes she attended
She called the head Of the house and de-
clared that she was going to quarantine
the house. In spite of all demurrers she
did so, and the surrounding families
were thereby protected. She knew thai
as a physician she owed a duty to the
public as well as to her patient. She die
not compromise the matter, because she
feared to lose part of her practice. Sh'
did her duty, regardless of conse
quences, and after the trouble is ovei
she will be held in higher esteem anC
confidence by the afflicted family thar
she ever was before.
We know of two cases in which younl
girls from infected houses were permit
ted to go out to nurse babies, and it wa
only by chance that the parents of tn
babies became aware of the danger
These cases show how necessary quar-
antine regulations are.
We trust that the people VIII cooper
ate with the Board of Health in thi
matter II they will but report tn
cases we believe that the board will d
its duty in the matter, and call bot
negligent physicians and careless par
ents to account for their sins of omis
sion.