Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-19
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE INSPECTOR.
A Well-known Physician Advances and En-
dorses the Idea.


Matters pertaining to public health
and municipal economy should always
be paramount considerations with the
people ana in talking with--the fol-
lowing measures Were discussed ana adj
Nocated. we give this to our readers
because the people are the jury which
shall decide what measures We are to
adopt in municipal government.
The duty Of the board If health IA
Very clearly defined BY statue ana
ordinance. in word it is to at All
times exercise vigilance in matters
pertaining to the physical well being
Of the people. and as far as possible
prevent disease. ana the man who Az
cepts a position on this board should
understand what his duties are and BE-
willing. and more, NJ should be aggrrs-
size in the discharge Of his duties He
is not necessarily hero if he lives up
e. his oath Of office. and discharge his
duties faithfully. He is moral Grim
inal if he does not.
But the duty Of the board Of health
as such is not TO treat diseases which
occur and are reported to them. They
are to restrict extension. and admins
ter affairs. There is a weak point in
the system practiced in this as well as
other cities which will appeal To any
Intelligent citizen on conSidera ton.
There is no public officer whose duty it
is 10 treat contagious disease when
such cases are quarantined. 1t be
comes necessary when a family is
quarantined among the laborng class,
to furnish Sustenance and medical
treatment and medicine. This is a
legal duty and a duty Of civilization.
But to furnish medical aid is often ex-
pensive. The board Of health must
furnish such medical treatment as is
necessary" and the city must pay
Now if all but one physician in a city
declines to treat the quarantined
cases, the man who will treat them
has got a "cinch." and can charge ex-
orbitant fees unless a good contract
happens to be made. 1t is rather late
to cast about for a quarantine officer
after a house or houses are quaran-
tined. besides physicians laying any
claim to professional ethics are loath
to take another physicians case unless
his duty is clearly defined, and there
should be no law. ordinance or ar
rangement by which discourtesy or
avarice is put at premium. Neither
should lack of law, ordinance or ar
rangement exist which would cause
needless expense to the city. Now this
is the disease What is the treatment?
A quarantine officer should be elected
(Which might be the city physician. it
should not be any member of the board
Of health or the health officer. be-
cause first, no health officer would
aara "a no nnaranfipp officer Nh man
can at once be an executive officer and
a private.
Whoever is quarantine officer should
be sworn to do his duty for a stipu
lated fee for each visit, and furnish his
own medicine. The customary and
legal fee according to the accepted fee
table in this city. is $3.50 per visit and
50 cents for each additional patient
seen in the same house, or 80 cents for
each additional mile travelled to the
patient In the case of smallpox, last
spring. the quarantine officer was paid
$3.50 for 30 days continuous and eX-
elusive service on the quarantined
patients This was the best arrange
ment that could be made. and we We're
fortunate to get the work done as well
as it was done for so small a fee. DIR.
WaShburn was a very efficient and
faithful officer.
IT does not follow if n house is
ouarantined that the patient must be
treated by the quarantine officer. II
the patient chooses to pay his phys-
elan he may have whom he pleaSeS,
but if the city has got to pay the bills.
the city should say who is to treat the
case. Another reason why a quaran-
tine officer with some municipal
authority would be an advantage is. he
would cooperate with the board of
health in enforcing quarantine regu-
| lations. The daily teaching of the
| patient and attendants proper obSerN-
ances would be of unspeakable adj
vantage. In connection with the re-
cent epidemic Of diphtheria. one of the
attendants positively refused to CO.
operate with the board. saying he was
| paid for prescribing medicine and mot
for admonishing the people and taking
orders for supplies This refusal. of
course made it necessary for another
man to make daily visits to the quar-
antned houses. Such circumstances
should not be repeated.
We have certain conditions to face.
! Certain things may occur, are likely to
occur. A. wise man foreseeth an evil
and hideth himself. but the foolish
pass on and are punished.
SELAH.