The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-24
DIPHTHERTA IN MONTCLAIR
HEALTH BOARD ORDERS Pa
ROC8IAL SCHOOL CLOSED.

Priest Had Previously Refused to Shut Up
the School and Said He Would Yield
Only to Foroe-Heaitb Inspector De
rected to Secure the Help OF the Police.
MoNTcLAIn. N. j.. Nov. 23.-The Montclair
Board OF Health decided tonight to
close the parochial school connected with
the Church OF tho Immaculate Conception
because Of the prevalence OF diphtheria In
the town. q majority OF the twenty cnses re-
ported since Nov. being traceablc directly or
indirectly to that school. according to the
board. The rector OF the parish. the Rev. j.
+. Mendl. declines to say whit measures no
viii adopt. combining himself to the statement:
Il will be ready for them"
Up to to-day seventeen cases OF diphtheria
had occurred this month. Three new cases
were reported to-day Accordingly n
special meeting OF the board was held
this evening. All tho members OF the
board were present. The session was the Sec
ond one they had held this week. The first
meeting TO consider the diphtheria question
was held on Tuesday night. when DR.. Richard
+. Francis. member OF tho board. made a res
port regarding diphtheria. Acting on his re-
port. the board adopted a resolution as fol-
lows:
In tho judgment OF This board. prudence
requires for the safety Of tho community that
the school be closed for a time. and this board
hereby requests the proper authorities OF the
parochial school TO close the same until further
action is taken by the board"
COPY OF the resolution was sent to Father
Mendl. In reply he at once sent letter to DR..
Francis. saying that the statement that there
were six cases OF diphtheria among children
attending the school was untrue. and that OF
the 6ve fatal cases Of diphtheria so far re-
ported four were Of children under four years
old n whom huI nj IN tad .
In three Of the cases." continued Father
Mendl In his letter. the. attending physician
pronounced II Group and not diphtheria. All
tho children OF these families where there
has been case OF sore throat since the
beginning OF October have been promply dis
missed from the IarochIal school and have not
Isen re-admitted except IN one instance
ting child bat fully recovered"
parish we're on the road TO recovery. The chill
dren o. two OF the families where the cases
Maple avenue and Chestnut street. no de-
s' sHR RSnf Nets" "tRf to soS S2s al the
f Sn, I'd do not ptsnd 70 an eHcepon
and viii Yield only to iorss refuse 10 close IT,
AZ to-nights meeting DR.. Francis said that
that OF eir whose brother attends the The T par"
chlh! school. and another that OF a Catholic
ohud No common cause such as milk or pro-
visions had been found for the twenty cases in
President Duncan said that ot seventeen
cases elk were OF pupils In the parochiai
were suspected as having originated from tho
school. There was no intention. Le said
OF attacking the parochial school AS the
origin OF the disease. SO far us
was known. the building was IN sanitary
condition. but the fact remained that the cases
arose from place where children congrcRatcd
TO show that board OF health had the right 10
declare any epidemic SO Injurious or hazard
Gus as to close ANY public or private school.
r. Is. Goodell. counsel to the board, uucs-
toned the authority Of the Board 10 close the
schoo!. As he interpreted the law, IL gave the
Board OF Health authority only 10 declare that
the School was menace The only way 10 close
one outside the building and prevent children
President Duncan said he was willing TO take
any personal responsibility that might be IN
CURED In closing the school. All the other
members OF the board said they would assume
:, Resolutions offered by Mr. Thomrson. a
numerous cases Of diphther'a wercso injurious
and hazardous as to make II necessary 10
close the parochiAl school OF the Church
o. the Immaculate Conception. and directed
that the school be closed until tho further
action OF the board The manner OF CARRYING
out this resolution was referred to the Health
Inspector. who was directed to con 'er with the
chairman OF the Police Committee OF tna Town
Council. aud secure the aid necessary 10 en-.
forco the action OF tho board.