Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-13

clan or householder who knows of any con-
tagious disease to Immediately report such
case or cases to the health officer. i de-
clare positively that no such cases have
been reported to me, or, to my knowledge,
to the board Of health of this county,
which did not receive immediate attention.
The case near College Park reported by
Capt. r. w. Sylvester. president of the
Maryland Agrio ultural College, was seen
the following day. and although doubtful
| as to the character of it, rigid quarantine
was ordered and provisions made to carry
out the quarantine
The day after l received the report of the
case on Mr.. Kliners place I went to investi-
gate 1t. but finding neither DIR. Wells nor
DR.. Richardson at home to give me any in
formation, wrote DR.. Wells concerning the
case and asked an immediate reply, which
was given. 1 went the following morning
and saw the case and did all in my power
to carry out the requirements of the law.
IhiS case was reported by both Mr.. Kliner
and DIR. Fulton. l have received no infor-
nation Of any other cases of smallpox at
or near Hyattsvile.
1t is further stated that Dr. Fulton noti-
fled me that l must Immediately take
charge of these cases or the state would do
SO at the countys expense. 1 say this is
not true: DR.. Fulton has never given me
any such notice. The county health board
needs no such notice; 1t stands ready and
willing to fully carry out all requirements
Of the law; but If the physicians house
holders in the families where these con-
tagious cases develop do not report them it
Is no fault of ours and the blame must not
be put on us. 1t is certainly unreasonable
to expect us to investigate every wild
NOR OF contagious disease in any locality
of the county. Again DIR. Fulton charges
that case Of smallpox was reported to
our county authorities July 10 and received
no attention until August IL. l admit that
1 heard July 10, although l did not receive
any notice, as the law requires, that there
was case supposed to be smallpox at
Lakeland. I went Immediately to investi-
to hav
patient was out and that the case turned
out to be one of chickenpoX. l received
notice from DR.. Lee of Lakeland August 10
OF several cases of smallpox at that place.
tined the houses in which these cases were
found and made arrangements for all
necessary attention and food.
I have stated to DR.. Fulton that the
BOARD or health Of our county would fully
comply with the law and investigate these
and all other such cases whenever they
were reported and we could locate them;
but no az ton would be taken unless there
was some foundation upon which to act l
therefore claim that Dr. Fulton has given
unnecessary alarm to the people Of the
upper section of the county and has made
grave and unwarranted charges against
the board of health Of this county and
against me, and l will appear at the next
meeting of the state board of health and
give him an opportunity to prove the
charges. l am fully prepared to prove
that his charges Of neglect of duty. etc.
on the part Of the county board Of health
are not true. l.. A. GRIFFITH.
Health Officer of Prince Georges Co.. Md.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The alarming reports still issued by the
press are calculated to greatly disturb our
patrons. Threatened quarantine was first
reported, and the individual cases which
have been cited, l am informed by the
health department OF Washington, are en-
tirely unfounded. l would be glad II you
would give place to this n your columns.
The account this morning that / would
leave college today Is a mistake. Under
the present circumstances l expect to re-
main here until all fears have subsidized.
r. W. SYLVESTER,
President Maryland Agricultural College.