The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-18
Ste 8er,tald stna alelps.
=, H. AULL, EDITOR.
A MISTAKEN IDEA.

~ AulS 10 tukSn from the NoWD9rry
Herald and News and is based upon
mlsinformation:
1t seems to us that If Governar Ell
lerbe had ordered the State board of
health to Greenville when the small
po% first broke out there and had di-
rected them to take charge of the cases
the spread of the disease might have
been stopped right there. The cases
In Spartanburg arc treceable to the
Greenville cases, and We believe the
same Is claimed of the cases ut Orange
burg"
The fact is that within two hours af-
ter case of suspected smallpox was
first reported by II physician in Green
Vile it was rigidly quarantined and the
quarantine was rigidly maintained.
This was on Monday Of the week. IT
was not until the following Friday that
an Atlanta expert saw the cases, but,
meanwhile, the house and neighbor-
hood where the cases existed were un-
der guard all the time. 1t is true that
the disease existed for some days before
IL was suspected by any physician, and
persons who came in contact with the
affected person before the case was re-
ported may have spread the disease to
other towns. But the State board Of
health could have done no more than
the authorities of Grccnvillc did after
the first diagnosis of probable small
pOX was brought to their attention.
The exceptional ability with which the
city of Grccnuillc has copcd with the
disease is shown from the fact that
while there have been more than Jwen-
ty cases, all of them are directly trace
able to the house where the first case
appeared. That the first case was not dis
covered during its incipcnt stages was
OF course the fault of no one. Six days
have elapsed since Il new case has been
developed. Remembering the start that
the disease had before its presence was
suspected. it is remarkable that it has
been so promptly checked.
Tho above is from the Grccnville
News. We still think If the matter
had been promptly reported to the
Governor and the state board OF health
had taken prompt action and instituted
strict quarantine, The spread to other
towns might have been avoided.
Our information was based on the
fact that the Spartanburg case and one
or two others are traccablc to the
Grcenville cases. If strict quarantine
had been established promptly the di-
teasc should not have been spread. We
are not criticising the Grccnvillc au-
thOritics, but there is deficiency some
where in our health laws. We were
told the other day that the defect was
in our laws and that this Legislature
just last week in the Senate killed q
bill that was intended co cover just
4
Orangcburg should not have been per-
mttcd to scatter all over the State rs
has been the case. AS soon rs there
was suspect strict quarantine should
have been inaugurated. Instead OF
that, we are told that the announce
ment was made in the morning that
quarantine would be established that
evening. BY that evening numbers OF
them had left to all parts of the State.
This is Il serious matter and drastic
measures should be resOrtcd to, If nee
cssary.
as to the Grccnville case, we will let
the Mountainccr answer the News
They are both in the same city. Here
Is "lal inc MOuntalncef says on the
subject:
"Spartanbure dealt. very promptly |
with the two cases OF smallpox which !
were brought to light in that city last |
week. All other towns and cities ought |
to profit by this example, and while pre-
pairing in advance by insisting on gen |
cral vaccination, when the first case is |
reported the local authorities ought to |
take Immediate measures for the isola- |
tlon OF the patients, the detention OF all |
suspects and the compulsory vaccina- |
tton OF the whole population. Such |
measures would have saved Grccnvillo |
large amount Of trouble and anxiety, |
and shortened the period in which the |
disease will run It's course, but there |
was valuable time lost at the outset in |
establishing pest house and detention |
camp, and much worse damage was |
done to all interests 10y tho silly pre-
tcnce that tho original cases we're not |
smallpox, in which many persons fool
lshly put their trust, and cndeavored |
TO cry down the physicians who had |
correctly diagnosed the disease. Such |
policy IS worse than a blundcr, for It |
is crime against humanity, and Is not
mitigatcd by frantic appeals for the
protection OF business interests"