Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-22
WARRANTS A
QUARANTINE
Chance For Butte to Recipr0-
cate Helena'S Attention.
BASED ON PERCENTAGE
Health Inspector Cronin Suggests Re-
taliat0ry Plan Like Unto
Sulgr0ve'S
BASED ON PERCENTAGE

The rapid spread of smallpox in Helena
and the decline of the disease in Butte
was the occasion of a conference at the
health office in the city hall this morn
ing between Mayor Mccarthy M SAM
tary Inspector Henry Cronin.
Mr.. Cronin called the mayors attention
to the fact that there are at least six
cases Of smallpox in the Helena pest
house. He said that on the basis of
Helena's population, as compared with
that of Butte, the epidemic must be
raging in the Capital City, inc the per-
centage of persons ill of the disease was
much in excess of that of Butte when
the disease was at it's height here.
"The largest number of patients con-
fined in the Butte pest-house at one time
was less than forty" aid Mr.. Cronin,
"and at present we are caring for only
about half that number. According to
my advices, the percentage of persons ill
Of the disease in Helena, on a basis of a
population of 5000, a liberal estimate, is
three-fortieths of 1 per cent. When the
disease was at it's worst in this city, fig
uring on a basis of 65 5000 inhabitants, the
percentage is four-sixty-ifths of l
per cent. Under the circumstances, I
consider the situation grave, and one
hat calls for stringent measures"
Mayor Mccarthy, who had listened
with close attention to the sanitary Off
GERS outline of the situation. interrupted
Mr.. Cronin to ask him what remedy he
woul suggest.
1--WE have the disease we'll under con-
troll in Butte replied Mr.. Cronin. For
the past two weeks cases have aver
aged less than n every "a hours. We
want to keep the disease down, and hope
to abandon the pest-house in the near
future. l would suggest that some one
representing the health department be
sent to Helena. to a a thorough in
v~estigation. If the disease is as preva-
lent in Helena as is reported, we would
be warranted in instituting a strict quar-
antine against Helena. We could do
this through the railways, requesting the
railroads to require that a certificate Of
vaccination be shown before a ticket is
sold to prospective passengers to Butte.
I would also suggest as a further safe
guard that the tickets sold under the
vaccination certificate plan be printed
on yellow cardboard-that being the
color used to designate the disease. and
that the conductors be instructed to
promptly eject any passengers of the
train not possessed of a yellow ticket.
Vii NiAC SibS u lIAS 0ddi dllLlIIC
ticket should be printed, in bold type,
I've Been Up Against the Real Thing"
or some legend of similar import. This
could be pinned on the label of the pas
senger's coat, in plain view of a detail
of quarantine guards to be stationed at
the depot, and the intelligence conveyed
by the printed legend would serve as q
passport. and would indicate that the
passenger from infected Helena had
complied with the conditions and was
entitled to visit Butte without molesta-
ton. And if any fresh passenger, who
might manage to elude the vigilance of
the conductors, should attempt to pass
the guards, and when asked by the guard
for his ticket. should reply My face is
my ticket or words to that effect, the
guard should promptly punch it, and
send the passenger to a place of detention
until he could be returned to Helena"
Mr.. Cronin continued for some length
along these lines. He is evidently very
nue. impressed with the necessity Of
doing something. n the matter will
probably be laid before the board Or
health in the near future.