The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-09
SCHOOLS WILL NOT CT OSE
That Is the Decision Reached bv
the Trustees.
PHYSICIANS OPPOSE IT
Reputable Medical Men Agree That
There Is No Need to Close the
Schools at Present-Children
Being vaccinated.

The schools will not close for the
present.
This was the verdict reached by the
school board after consulting with half
dozen physicians of the city. The
unanimous opinion among these ply
sicians is that it is not advisable to
close the schools now.
Pursuant to adjournment of the
school board Tuesday night, it met
yesterday evening In the office of Pres
ident Mueller to get the views OF as
many doctors as could meet there or as
many as could be seen during the aft
ernoon by calling at their offices. DR..
Campbell was the only member Of the
profession that called at the Office of
Mr.. Mueller, and he was asked to ex-
press his views with reference to the
proposition of closing the schools on
account Of the smallpox endemic.
ITO begin with,' said he, II wish
to correct the impression that has been
made by the report of many papers
which quoted me as saying that I did
not believe that there was case of
smallpox in the city. The reporters
who attended the meeting of the school
board Tuesday night were evidently in
formed by some one who talked with
me over the telephone that had made
that statement. Some one at that
meeting called me up and asked me to
express myself in connection with the
adv1sability Of closing the schools. l
replied: I do not think it advisable
to close the schools on account Of the
prevalence of the disease in this city.
l do not believe that there Is case
OF smallpox in Rocker. but there is
no doubt as to the disease in this city
When such eminent physicians as Drs.
Johnston and Leayitt tell you that
there Is smallpox in this city the
smallpox is here
Now, gentlemen, as to closing the
schools, l would advise you to keep
them open. You have taken the prop
err steps by ordering the attending pu-
pills to be vaccinated. ] would say
to continue the schools until we'll
defined case be found right in school,
then close that particular school. Vac
cination Is about all that can be done
now. See to it that the pupils are vac
cinated. If pupil is exposed to-day
and be vaccinated tomorrow, the vi
rus viii be the first to operate upon the
subject. Besides there is not any
great danger in smallpox when the
necessary precaution Is taken. For in
stance, the disease is not as a rule
contagious in its first stages. The con-
tagion comes with the eruptive stage.
and the pupil is not in school when 1t
reaches that stage. The thing to do
is to keep a close watch on the child
rem, and when one shows any sign of
illness, hurry 1t off home, and report
the case to the health board. Isolate
the residence and keep on watching
for similar cases. If the schools are
to be closed, then shut all places of
public gatherings, the theater, Sun
ri a cntn nte- no
every place where people consregate.
At the present stage 1 would not ad-
wise the closing of the Schools"
There were present the following
trustees, who then went to Murray &
Freund's hospital: President Mueller,
Messrs. McC. White. clinton. Moui-
throp and Giard. Moth doctors greeted
Mueller stated the object of the call.
What is to be gained by closing the
schoals?" asked DIR. Freund in reSly
to the question of Mr.. Mueller.
That's just what we came UP here
to find cut" was the reply Of the
chairman.
Then both of the doctors entered into
general discussion with the members
individually and collectively. 1t was
the doctors opinion that it would be
unWise to close the schools at the
present time. The argument was ad-
vanced that il the pupils were dis
missed and allowed to roam over the
city, which would be the general con-
sequence, the opportunities for dis
seminating and contracting the disease
would be manifestly greater than they
now are. because, as it Is at present,
children are held together and all of
them are, or soon will be, vaccina.ed.
and vaccinated children are not going
TO spread the disease among them
selves
Why interposed DR.. Murray, Sup
pose you close the schools now---in
lew days We will suppose that more
cases develop. In another week or two
more cases and still farther on more
cases. You are not then going to ,e-
open the schools. 1t is probable that
there VIII be sporadic cases stretched
along oyer considerable period of
.ime. no, the children are better OF
IN school IN the present stage of the
endemlc than they would be running
at large over the city, and especially
when they are not vacc:natea"
The disease has not reached that
stage where it is necessary to close the
doors of public meeting houses" said
DR.. Freund.
DR.. j. c. Johnston was next called
upon and he asked if the crowd lad
called to be yaccina ted. Replying 10 the
question of the spokesman, the doctor
this district, but I ind srstand thew are
all isolated and Icing treated in the
proper way. That much is known 10
be a fact. Now, as to closing the
schools because of these cases. / would
say that l believe the best thing to do
is to go slow Don't close just now; the
disease is not spread sufficiently to
warrant such measures. Better keep
the children together and see that they
are yaccinated. The board has taken
the right course in requiring the pupils
to be yaceinated. l look for more
cases, but hope there will be no more.
Still, it is well to be on the safe side
by ordering vaccination in the schools.
Vaccination acts quicker than exposure
to the contagion, and even if the child
lis exposed to-day and is vaccinated in
side of day or two after. the virus will
do its work before the germ contained
In the contact. So would say that the
children are in no danger by reason of
their assembling together in a school
room full of varripatad f,uDils IF the