Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-11
DANGEROUS DOCTRINE.

School superintendent N""f'''
whether there would be danger from
teachers attending the state Teachers
convention. shortly to be held In this
city. Dr. T. b. Beatty secretary Of the
State Board Of Health, replied as fol-
lows:
ON nv opinion there would be no
danger to be anticipated from the At
tendance OF teachers at the state
Teachers convention. provided they
shall have been successfully vaccinat-
ed: otherwise there would be great
danger They would not be liable TO
carry the disease 10 others unless they
themselves should first have contracted
st."
We have heard Of many singular
things done and said, by the Secretary
but this caps the climax. According
to this sage pronunclamento all the
quarantine regulations that have been
established, excepting those applying
10 diseased individuals, are unnecessa-
~ and useless. People who have not
themselves contracted smallpox. or
other contagious disorder, may move
around freely. ride On street cars mix
with the public in different assemblies
or on the streets or in stores. and there
viii be no danger because "they would
not be liable 10 carry the disease 20
others unless they themselves should
frst have contracted ~"
There's medical wisdom FOR you
What. cannot person who has been In
the company OF one afflicted With a
contagious disease carry the germs
thereof, in his clothing, and communl-
cate them unknowingly 70 others with
out contracting the disease himself?
II 80. then many scores Of people in
this city have been shut up in quaran-
tined houses without any necessity for
their confinement One member Of a
family has had a mild attack Of the
disorder which doctors declare Is small
pox. even II the afflicted one has not
been really sick a day, and all the rest
OF the household have been confined
In the home, with a yellow flag hoisted
az a warning to others, and all in vain
except as regards the liability Of the
one diseased person 10 spread conta-
gion. That is. according to DR.. Beat
TVS peculiar theory.
II only those who have FIRST con-
tracted" the disease themselves are la
Bile to carry It TO others, what neoes-
sity Is there for the law Of the State
under which boards OF health are re-
qulred to act and from which they de-
rive all their legitimate authority?
The statute on health and Quaran-
tine regulations provides, that, mo
PERSON or THING liable to propagate
any OF the contagious diseases shall
be brought within the limits Of the
state, without the special permit and
direction OF the State board OF health
Infected persons or GOODS may be
stopped at the State line, and be "se
curely Isolated and dslnfected." Bed
ding. clothing. rags and other objects
which have been exposed to infection,
are to be dislnfected before being ex.
posed on penalty Of a misdemeanor
against the person found guilty Of the
exposure
What are all these provisions for, II
nobody can carry disease unless be,
himself has previously contracted IT.
What difference does II make to in
fected clothing, whether the person
wearing il has been vaccinated or not?
Does the secretary Of the board OF
health mean TO say that vaccination
not only renders the individual bearing
its marks immune from smallpox, but
prevents him from carrying It's germs
In his clothing? Are the clothes worn
by a vaccinated individual yaccinated
toog
II the theory set forth IN the reply
70 Superintendent Coopers letter is
generally held by physicians, It can be
readily understood why some Of them
visit and prescribe for smallpox pa
tients. and then call upon people in
their regular rounds, without changing
or dis.nfecung their own clothing But
It Is difficult 20 understand why this
should apply 20 a doctor and not 70
other healthy persons similarly ex-
posed
The Secretary Of the Board Of Health
TO tha contrary Notwithstanding. We
caution aIi persons who have been 10
the company Of one afflicted with
smallpox. or any other contagious dis
ease 'hat The germs o. thar disease
may le ana frequently are carried 20
others .n the ha.r beard OF clothing OF
slch persons without their contracting
b tfems.v. aul That 90 win make not
th slightest difference 90 that convey
once of Chose germs whether the bear
es 'H. ty whatever means are
'a.e.aa'.l or u1yaganaJal This says
a2.h.us asanst Che virtues OF vaccine.
ZION Go the individual Iclt renders him
perfectly immune 10 Uul not stop the
Infection Of bis clothing nor hinder his
impartlng that Infection TO persons
whose physical condition ls such as 10
render them liable to contract the dis.
ease.
A little calm reflection and the exer.
else OF q little common sense. VIII