Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-03
HKE EVERY PROBATION.

( The discovery of several cases of small
pox in Rocker, three miles from the city,
as announced in yesterdays Inter Noun
tain, and.the finding of another case in
the heart Of Butte. should excite the
gravest interest on the part of our peo-
pie and lead to the utmost precautions
on all sides. While there is no special
cause for alarm. as there are as yet no
indications hat the disease will become
officers. and all others in authority, to
take adequate precautionary measures to
protect the community from the inroads
of the scourge.
1t is unfortunate, at this time, that any
misunderstanding should arise between
the medical representative of the city
charge of the pest house, relative to the
admission of patients. Disagreements
as to whether a man suspected of having
smallpox should or should not be ad-
mitted to that institution have found
their way into print. and have been in a
measure arbitrated by officials who are
avowedly ignorant of medical lore.
AS p~aradoxical as it may seem, both
physicians are theoretically correct as to
the positions taken. Without assuming
to weigh the merits of the particular case
in controversy, of which the Inter Noun
tam knows nothing, the physician to the
board Of health is essentially right in
wishing to remove to a place of isolation
anyone who can be reasonably suspected
of coming down with the disease. The
health of the community, and the pro-
lection Of the public, demands such a
curse. On the other hand, the physician
In charge of the pest house is equally
correct in refusing admission into that
Institution to patients who are suspects
only, and to whom a grave injustice may
b. done by placing them in actual con-
tact with the dread disease. "
When the preliminary symptoms of a
sick man leave grave doubts as to wheth-
er he is or is not coming down with small
pox, protection should be afforded both to
the public and to the patient. Neither the
one nor the other should be compelled to
take chances. A monstrous injustice
patient the benefit of the doubt, While ar
equal injustice might be lone the patien,
by railroading him into the pest house
where he would contract the disease tt
which he may not have been previousl,
exposed.
An arrangement which would perhap:
and efficient physicians seem to have
met. would be the selection of some suit
able place of detention for those who ar,
believed to be coming down with the dis
ease. when there are reasonable doubt!
entertained as to the cases. until it il
determined beyond question whether TIL,
suspected parties should be sent to tn
pest house or turned over to their friends
In this way no injustice would be don
the patient on the one hand, or the publ,
on the other hand, and every precautioi
would be taken to prevent the spread o
the disease.
The Inter Mountain believes there i
little room to fear any dereliction o
duty in these matters on the part of an.
one entrusted with the grave RESPONSE
bility Of protecting the public health
More evil may grow out of a failure t
cooperate in protective measures thai
from any lack of desire to intelligent,
and faithfully serve the public interests
In the meantime, every individual shout
do his whole duty along sanitary lines
not because there is any reason at tn
present time to fear an epidemic O
smallpox, but because every possibilit
in that line should be promptly and eff
feetually headed off at the first appear
ance of danger.
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