The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-02-02

The trial of the State against Dr.
Eugene Ragsdale, charged with violat-
ing the regu ations of the City Board of
Health, which took place Saturday af-
ternoon before Equires E E. Erwin and
! W. &. Whitthorne, resulted in the de-
fendant being bound over to the next
term of the Maury County Criminal
Court, which meets the first Wednesday
in February, under bond of $3.50.
1t is unnecessary to enter into details
concerning the evidence of the phys-
clans, but the most imp, rtant points in
the testimony of each witness are given.
The case rested not so much upon the
point as to whether the defendant had
smallpox or not, but as to whether he
had violated any law of the Board of
Health. Five of the physicians examin-
ed were positive that DR.. Ragsdale did
have smallpox, and five were equally
positive that he did not have smallpox.
The first witness placed on the stand
by the prosecution was
DR.. ROBT. PILLOW,
President of the City Board of Health
DR.. Pillow testified that he and three
other members of the Board of Health
namely, Doctors Wilkes, Williamson and
Biddle-in company with DR.. Harrison,
went to examine DR.. Ragsdale, rumor
having been circulated that he had
SMALLPOX. The result of the examina-
ton was that DR.. Ragsdale was pro-
nounced sick with varioloid and was
told to go to his room and remain there
until the disease disappeared. DR.. Rags
dale said he would do this provided DR..
Cain, of Nashville, after coming out and
making an examination of his case, pro-
nounced the disease smallpox; and if
DR.. Cain said it was not smallpox he
would not place himself in quarantine.
DR.. Ragsdale also asked if he could go
and see a patient that afternoon, and
was told that he could not. He was fur
ther told that if he did not place him
self in quarantine, the matter would be
carried into the courts. This examina-
tion occurred on Friday, and on Satur-
day witness learned that DR.. Ragsdale
had been out upon the streets; thereup-
on, he as President of the Board of
Health, swore out warrant and had
him arrested.
Cross examined. DIR. Pillow stated
that he did not know when the Board of
Health was elected or organized, and
that no rules or regulations had ever
oeen adopted by them. No written no
tice had ever been served upon DR.. Rags
dale, ordering him to go into quaran-
tine.
DIR. c. A. FORGEY,
, Secretary of the City Board of Health
was placed upon the stand. He was
J questioned in regard to the smallpox ir
the city, and stated that he had ex.
ami g quite number of cases and be
lieved them to be smallpox. He did not
go with the other four members of the
J Board of Health to examine DIR. Rags
dale, and consequently could not speak
in regard to his case.
Cross examined, witness stated that
: the Board of Health was organized dur
} ing the first part of 1885, and only two
official meetings had been held. Nc
: rules or regulations had ever been adopt
ed by them, the City Board acting under
the State Board of Health.
DR.. J. H. WILKES
was next placed upon the stand. Ii
! speaking of DIR. Ragsdale's case, he sale
that upon first examination he did no
believe him to have smallpox; but, afte
making more careful diagnosis, il
f company with the other three member!
0 of the Board of Health and DIR. Harrison
0 he became satisfied that DIR. Ragsdalt
+ did have a mild case of varioloid. Wit
e ness concurred in the statement of DR.
e Pillow relative to ordering DIR. Ragsdal
n into quarantine.
S At this juncture, the defense requested
S that the three Nashville physicians il
t attendance be allowed to testify, as the,
: were obliged to return to Nashville tina
= evening. Maj Williamson, attorney TO
o the plaintiff, objected to the introduc
S ton of their testimony, but the objec
e ton was overruled, and DIR. j. S. Cali
d was placed upon the stand.
II DIR. GAINS TESTIMONY.
Dr. Cain stated that DIR. Ragsdal
came to his office in Nashville on Fri
day night, and asked that he be exam
ined to ascertain if he had smallpox
After making an examination of tn
" case he gave DR.. Ragsdale a certificate
stating that in his opinion he did no
, have smallpox. That was his belle
. then, and it was still his belief that h
= had neither smallpox nor varioloid. II
J. had seen great deal of smallpox dul
e ing his lifetime, ana thought he wOul
" know a case now if he saw it.
! DIR. J. A. W.T. HERsPooN
,e was then called to the stand. He state
h that DIR. Ragsdale came to his office tn
re- same night that he went to DIR. CAIN
;e and asked to be examined. He Will
D. erspoonl did not know, however. that ID
s. Cain had examined DIR. Ragsiaie unit
el after he had made his own diagnosi,
le The result Of his examination was tn,
Y he did not believe DR.. Ragsdale bad n
So the smallpox, aud he therefore signe
e. DIR. Gains certificate % that effect. q
d the Sunday following. he wrote ID
30 Ragsdale a letter stating that he migi
se haze an atypical case Of varioloid. an
/ advising him To remain indoors. Il
4. did this. not because he had chang
ii his op'n on. but merely because D
thought it would be better Tor him