The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-16

and a half away. 1t is up on a hill and
there is no water within half a mile Of
the place. There is nothing there but
rock quarry. The city bought it for a
place to bury dead animals, but a cat
couldn't be buried there on account of
the rock
Councilman Hughes asked how many
cases there are now in the city.
L haven't checked up for four or five
days" said DR.. Peers, but at that time
there were 45 houses quarantined, and
presume there were 100 cases of the
disease"
Councilman Belts told of a new case
in his neighborhood in North Topeka
and gave it as his opinion that the
quarantine is not strict enough.
Councilman Hughes-There was a
case at Sixth and Lincoln and only a
few feet away there was a kindergarten
To be sure most of the children We're
stopped from attending the kindergar-
ten when the case broke out. There was
another case on West Tenth which I
don't suppose DR.. Peers nor any of the
board of health knew anything about,
because the family was careful not to
call a physician, but boy in the family
carried milk around to other families
all the time This is costing the city
hundreds of dollars. People who do
things of that kind, or who break
through the quarantine oughtto be lock-
ed up in Jail. 1 have been carrying my
arm in a sling for six weeks as a result
of vaccination, and I am getting tired
of it.
Mayor Drew-The trouble about ar
resting people is that we have no place
to put them. We can not send them to
the city prison for that would take the
disease there. If we had a detention
hospital we could lock them up in that
DR.. Peers-It has been suggested to
me that I have some one else rent a
house in the suburbs for a hospital
without letting the owner or agent
know what it is to be used for, but I
don't do business that way. AS soon
as loan agent finds out it is to be used
as a hospital he wouldn't rent a house
under any consideration. The point is
is the Fourth Avenue hotel a safe place
for it? If SO it should be kept there.
If we would take it to North Topeka.
it would be burned down. Move it to
the Third ward, and there would be
bigger kick than ever. No part of the
city wants it, so it is just a question of
safety. I will agree that a pest house
would be the most effeetual way of
dealing with the disease, but gentle
men, it would be a hard way. If my
baby had it I should hate to see her go
to a pest house. I would do almost
anything rather than allow that.
DR.. Wallace-Before you vote to
establish a pest house remember that
it means that every patient must go
there, and I want to ask each council
man eff he will send a member of his
family there if taken with the disease.
Councilman Elliott wouldn't want
Councilman Betts-I don't believe I
could do it.
Mayor Drew wouldn't do it,
That ended all talk of a pest house.
Councilman Roundtree said there
were no cases of the disease in his To-
cality before Christmas, but now there
were several and there had been one
death. He told of one case that had
been guarded night and day, but the
boy broke through the guards and ran
away. The guards caught him and
brought him back, but he broke away
again.
Councilman Hughes said that there
have been three cases of the disease
at the Fourth Avenue hotel right along
without any kicking, and it is not prob
able that there will be more than that
there at any one time. 1T will be more
of house of refuge than anything
else he said. 81 am closer to it all day
than either of the gentlemen who are
oppOsingsit-ny coal office is right near
it and pass by there every day"
Mayor Drew said he had searched the
city over for some place that could be
rented for a hospital. but the Fourth
Avenue hotel was the only one that
could be found, and there was no choice
in the matter.
On motion of Councilman Nettels the
action of the board of health in estab-
fishing the hospital there was approved,
Councilmen Morgan and Benson voting
in the negative.