Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-16
Board Of Education Concludes that
il Shall be Done,
FEE is FIXED AT % CENTS.
State Health Hoard 20 Issue a Proc
lamation-Subject Discussed
Last Night


teachers and school work met last night
with DR.. Beatty, secretary Of the State
board OF health, and Dr.. Keogh, city
health commissioner and resolved 10
enforce vaccination upon all school
children as a safeguard against the en-
trance into the homes and schoolrooms
Of the dreadful disease Of smallpox.
The committee further determined to
have Issued more effective rule touch-
Ing preventive measures for other con-
tagious diseases. The action taken viii
be recommended for adoption to the
board, at special meeting TO be held
Tuesday evening.
After short discussion of the ques-
ton in all its phases. the following reso.
lutions were adopted.
Resolved, that no pupil or teacher
shall be permitted In the schools at the
opening thereof on Jan. s, 1900 who
shall not present the certificate Of a
reputable physician that he or she has
been vaceinated or give evidence of
successful vaccination.
Resolved that the superintendent
be empowered 10 arrange with the
bo9rd OF health for the vaccination of
all pupils who may present themselves
for that purpose, at a cost of not to
exceed % cents each; provided. that
the children Of INDECENT parents shall
be vaccinated free Of expense"
Health Commissioner Keogh said that
In no way could the Imminent danger
OF smallpox epidemic be reduced TO a
minimum In Salt Lake better than by
compelling the vaccination of.eyery per-
son In the public schools, whether pupil
or teacher. He added that he would
try and have the city health department
cooperate with the school board In
making general vaccination effective.
Within the past day or two, several
vaccine points had been received from
the east, and he did not think there was
any occasion Cor alarm ON that score.
DR.. Beatty In speaking of the virtue
OF vaccination, said that no well in
formed person could show that any
thing but almost utter immunity from
smallpox resulted from vaccination. He
challenged anyone 10 cite an instance
Where any fatality eneued from the ap-
plication Of modern aseptic methods,
end no one could name an instance Of
even an arm being lost from II. Dr.
Beatty asserted that there wac abso-
lutely no danger from vaccination, and
the efficacy OF il no one could galnsay.
He said that Utah was about the only
State In the Union In which there were
no compulsory vaccination laws. and
for this reason he believed that II small
poX should become epidemic in Salt
lake and Other towns where the con-
tagon has brJken out, the result would
be terrible.
Chairman Crltchlow affirmed that II
was his opinion that the school board |
has legitimate right 10 enforce vaccl- |
ration Of school children, when the dis
ease has already broken out.
Or, Beatty thought that the general |
powers granted by law TO the State |
health board. are ample to require vac. |
In the schools, but II there were |
any doubt about II he would favor |
throwing down the gauntlet now and |
testing the question.
In answer 80 a question by Mr.. Critch- |
low, Dr. Beatty said that all the 10000 |
pupils and teachers could be treated |
during Christmas and New Years holi- |
days II the vaccination was done In a /
way. He could vacciante at |
the rate o. one a minute II he had an |
assistant 10 prepare the arms OF the vic |
tins. Those who do not wish to have |
their arms marred. may have the vac
cine applied on the leg above the knee.
DR.. Beatty declared that on Monday |
the State beard Of health would issue
a proclamation, ordering compulsory
vaccination of all school children and
and recommending the same
preventive to every person beyond the
reach Of the board. the recommended
don being based upon the fact Of the
presence OF the disease in Salt Lake and
other towns IN the state.
BY general agreement the arrange.
ments Tor the vaccination campaign
was left with Superintendent Cooper,
The board concurring.
Mr. Moyle was willing 10 support the
general proposition. but did not know
about The cOmpuslon President Nell
len doubted the school boards authority
10 act on the lines recommended. but
Messrs. Critchiow Walker and Young
voted for and heartily supported the
1T. Dtdlis NHfn AuIlltu niN oulttis
upon the presence OF lace curtains and
lther draDery in school rooms. He
hought this was barbarous, as curtains
we're veritable nests for microbes.
After q brief discussion a resolution
% abolish the evil was adopted for rec.
TO the board. Following
Is the resolution:
Resolved, that for sanitary reasons
III curtains in any school rooms Of the
lily be removed before the opening OF
schools after the Christmas holidays,
md that they be not replaced at any
line"
Quite an extended argument was in
lulged in, on the necessity of disinfect-
ng text books, apparatus and every
hing in the school rooms by the fire.
Iuent application OF formaldehyde gas,
tut no action was taken upon the mat
eT.
In respect to preventing the spread OF
,ther contagious diseases such as scar
ct fever, whooping cough and the like
he following new rule was unanimously
Igreed upon Tor adoption by the board:
1T Is hereby made the duty OF
'chool teachers and principals 20 as
crtain daily as carly as possible the
ause Of absence OF any pupil and In
ase absence If caused by sickness sup.
'osed 10 be contagious. that such cause
70 reported at once 20 the board OF
iealth for investigation. and the SUPER
ntendent OF schools is hereby author
zed 20 make such rules and regula-
Ions as 10 him seem necessary TO dis
over and report all such cases"