The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-15

RY STATE HEALTH BOARD
ARRIVED IN RALEIGH LAST
NIGHT TO BEGIN HIS DUTIES.
NINETEEN COUNTIES REPORT CASES
Compulsory Vaccination in Burlington and
Greensboro. LEGAL Authorities Slow
TO Report to The State
Secretary

The appearance of small pox ha-
has been reported in nineteen counties
of the State up to this time. The lates
cases reported were from Guilford and
Wilson.
The counties in which eases have
been reported to DIR. Lewis, secretary
Of the State Board of Health, are as fol-
lows: Currituck, Pasquotank, Peroui-
mans, Gates, Berthe Tyfiell, EdgecomDe.
Wilson, Wayne, Johnston, Wake, Ala
nance. Guilford. Buncombe. New Han
over. Northampton. Columbus. Halifax
and Mcdowell. There is some doubt as
TO the case in Tyrrell county. and Hert-
ford has been reported as having case
but the diagnosis is not entirely salts
factory.
In view of the gradual spread of the
disease it was decided by the State
Board of Health to put an expert in the
held and the board on yesterday Sc
cured. with the consent of the Cover
nor, Dr. Henry Il. Long, of Statesville.
Dr Lewis received a telegram from
Dr. Long yesterday afternoon announc-
ing that he would arrive b. the early
tram this morning to enter upon his dli-
ties, which will be in a general way
those of inspector of small pox for the
State Board of Health. DIR. Long will
visit, all points from which cases are
reported, will assist in the diagnosis and
advise with the local physicians and au-
thorities as TO the best way to manage
the outbreak. DIR. Long was employed
because of his large experience with and
successful management of small pox
lie had charge of the outbreak in Ire
dell county, 60 cases in all, and was high
~ successful in stamping out the dis
ease in that county.
DR.. Long is employed under section
20 of the Health Board act q 1882,
which is as follows:
Section 20. A contingent fund OF five
thousand dollars is hereby appropriated,
subject to the Governors warrant. cal,n-
tersigned and recorded by tho Auditor
of the State. to be expended in pursuance
of the provisions of.sthis act waea ra:.-
dered necessary by visitation Of chol-
era or any other pestilcatial disease.
THE time has CONF. in the opinion
of the health authorities, when circnm-
stances justify the use of part of this
y
noon, land so with the consent of the
Governor we secured DIR. Long. who will
visit the infected points and urge upon
the authorities the necessity of vacci
nation.
You may add DR.. Lewis continued
that vaccination is the only protection
against small pox; quarantining is moi
worth q cent.
in infected towns to try to hush up thu
matter for business reasons. The re
suit is that in the long rung the towI
suffers more in health and bust
ness than if there was no con
cealment. but frank recognition Of thu
circumstances and vigorous steps t
stamp the disease out"
DR. Iledbetter telegraphed from
Greensboro yesterday for a colored i'm
mune nurse to take charge of the cas-,
there. but the nurse could not be fur
nished DIR. Wrenn. who has charge o
the cases here, can not spare the nurse
who has tended on the patients. Tn,
one case of small pox and the ssye.
cases of varioloid are pretty well recov
cred. but not sufficiently to discharge tn
nurse Greensboro has passed an ordi
nance requiring all persons residins ].
the CITY, either permanently or TEN
rorarily. TO be vaccinated on or befor
Thursday. March 18th, 1899, and pre-
scribing a penalty Of $40 for each ~,
that any person shall refuse or neglec
to be vaccinated after that date.
Burlington. where eleven cases of tn
disease have been reported, telegraphe'
yesterday that the county and town an
thorities acting in conjunction have de
cided on compulsory vaccination III thu
town and colored suburbs.
There is a disposition. even anon;
Doctors said DIR. Lewis, ito draw a dis
tinction between small pox and vario
loid, though why do not know Nario
loid is as dangerous so far as contaglol
is concerned as small pox.
1.-THE spread of the disease has beer
gradual in this State. the reports com
ing in from time TO time. The disease
is a very mild form, but then all epi
denies are usually mild in the begin
ming, gathering virulence as they pro
gress. Hence the necessity that thu
disease should he stamped out promptly.
One source of trouble with the Stat,
board has been the unsatisfactory ma
ture of the reports sent in. Often {
case will be reported and then the board
hears no more of it. There is often &
disposition also to dispute the diagnosis
and the consequent failure TO take proper
steps to curb the spread of the disease.
1t may not be generally known that
the statute is very stringent. both as tC
reports by physicians to the mayor and
superintendent of health and to the
Secretary of the State Board of Health
The law is as follows:
Section II: When physician knows
that IA person whom he is called to visit
is infected with small poX dfptheria
scarlet fever, typhuS fever yellow fever
or cholera he shall Immediately give no
tice thereof TO the health officer or may
or. If the sick be in a city or incorporated
town, otherwise to the county supern
tendent Of health, and if he refuses OF
raoIeetS Ia rive such MOI leo of If i,