The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-25
FOR VIOLATING SANITARY LAWS.
DIR. OIiveros Fined $50 for Falling to
Report a Scarlet Fever Case.

Report n Scarlet Fever Case.
DR.. B. P. Oliveros of No. ITO Taylor
street was fined $50 in the Police Court
yesterday for Violating the city ordinance
requiring physicians to report to the san
itary board cases of disease within TWEEN
ty-four hours. An effort was made by
DR.. Oliveros to show that he did not re.
port the case because the case of scarlet
fever, which it was later found the pa
tient had, had not developed sufficiently
for him to satisfactorily diagnose it.
The report 20 the health office was made
by Mr.. Henry G. Ganahl. who understoo
there was case of scarlet fever at the
house. The fact no placard was posted,
as the ordinance requires, aroused II.
Ganahis suspicious, and on later inquir-
ing at the health office. he was informed
that report of the case was made by
DR.. Ohveros Feb. 16, when the patient had
recovered and the house ready for fumiga-
ton. When the positive statement was
made at the health office that the first
report had not been made, Mr. Ganahl had
DR.. Oliveros put on the Information
docket Recorder Hartridge considered
the evidence showed that the ordinance
had been violated, and accordingly impos-
ed the fine.
Acting Health officer farrell recently
requested physicians TO report diseases, so
that the health department could take
the necessary precautions to prevent a
spread of the disease. The ordinance on
the subject says:
1T shall, be the duty of every physician
or other person practicing medicine in the
city of Savannah, to report TO the board
of sanitary commissioners every case OF
smallpox yellow fever or other infectious.
contagious or pcstilentiaI disease which he
may be called upon to treat within the
city limits said report to be made within
twenty-four hours after he shall have as
certained the character of the case, and
u specify the name of the patient and
the locality of the house in which such
person is to be found; and for every vio-
lation of this provision The guilty partV
shall. upon conviction before the Police
Court, be liable 10 fine or imprisonment.
or both, in the discretion of the court
such fine not to exceed s190 and such i'm
prisonment not to exceed thirty DAYS. Bur
whenever any disease has been declared
epidemic by the board OF sanitary com
missioners il shall not be required that
further cases be reported
The above does not only refer to phy-
siciaus, but the succeeding section applies
to citizens. whose duty it is to report dis
eases of this character, and a failure 10
do so subjects them to the same fine ana
penalty ON conviction as in the cases OF
physicians,
There is said to be an einclination among
some physicians TO protect" families VINO
do not desire p.acards on their houses. On
good authority it is stated there are a
large number of physicians who fail 70
make reports of contagious and infectious
diseases until time for the houses to be
fumigated, when the time for contracting
the aisease has probablNipassed. An al
derrian said yesterday that he believed It
was thopghtlessness on the part Of INV
slcians, and not any desire on their part
TO screen families who do not care RI
have their houses posted.