The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-15
WILL CLOSE FOR A MONTH.
BOARD OF HEALTH TAKES ACTION
As To DENNY SCHOOL.
decision fo Close Reached After q
Long Consultation With Members
eff the Hoard Of Education--

The Denny school. in North Seattle. 70
10 be closed fer one month. owing 10 the
prevalence of diphthsria in the contiguous
district
This decision was reached last evening
BY the board OF health. IN Consultation
with School Directors Wells and Lamb.
The board of education viii meet some
time today and act upon the recommended
tioa Of the health department There was
a time when the two boards fought on
such propositions. but in the present In
stance both Mr.. Lamb and Mr.. Wells said
thai {; was best to acs promptly.
In January there were twenty cases
OF diphtheria- with one death. and so far
this month eight cases. with three deaths
The peculiar feature is that all the eases
are In families who live In the Denny dis
triet, or whose children attend the school.
The school building has been systematically
examined by Health Officer Smith and the
inspectors, but 20 all appearances IL Is in
perfect sanitary condition. Some have
thought that the disease was due to poor
sanitation of the different houses where
IL has been developed. IL Is true that In
mos, cases the houses have been poorly
provided from sanitary point of view.
uut. on the otDtT nanu. houses IN Just as
bad condition are free from the disease.
There are twenty rooms in the Denny
school. and cases Of dlphtiferia have been
found among the pupils OF the following:
Nos. 3. I. 6. :. g 10. IL and % As 10 room
No. g. there have been no reports since last
October.
Health officer Smith told the board that
he desired an opinion from it's members
and from School Directors Wells ana
Lamb. representing the school board. as
TO the advisability of closing the Denny
school and fumgating 1t from basement to
garrett He said that IL the disease took a
drop while the school was closed II would
have tendency TO show that there was
something wrong at the school: II not. the
investigation would have TO be turned In
another direction.
DIR. Horton and DIR. Newlands said that
while they regretted closing a school, they
thought 81 better 10 act now than walt.
DR.. Newlands advocated cautioning par
ents. whose children attended the school.
10 keep them at home during the closing
period. He spoke with special references
10 children ccngregating and playing to-
gcther.
School Director Lamb said that he was
in favor or acting promptly In such cases.
Mr.. Wells said he agreed With DIR. New
lands that 1t was very important for par
ents to keep the children at home and
away from other children.
Mr.. Lamb and Mr. Wells said that IL
would be desirable 10 close the school an
short time as possible. A resolution was
then adopted requesting the board of edu-
cation to close the school one month and
instruct pupils TO leave all books i'm the
building. The board OF education will be
called together some time today TO act on
the communication frcm the board OF
health.
The work OF fumigating viii be COM
menced "a soon as possible with the latest
and most approved apparatus.
A communication was addressed TO the
council asking that Health Officer Smith
be allowed an assistant. or that his pay be
Increased so that he may employ one HIM
self. The health officer said that with the
establishment Of ARCHAEOLOGICAL labora-
tory, the increased number OF paupers and
his other duties. he was in danger OF being
swamped.