Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-06-08
More About Quarantine Business

erev on Saturday. May 10Th was
no fault Of DR.. Suddarth's, us 1T IS
more than likely (for reasons that
7 shall mention) that | would have
been there, had been refused
pass, expecting of course to be
dealt with the same as others from
the sam4 neighborhood who had
previously passed through the t.
quarantine line without permits;
Ct don't wish to intimate that
would disregard an effective quar-
antine). :,
But the Board of Health had
been notified three or four different
times that supplies were needed
within the infected, district, and
up to that date nothing had been
provided.
Nv family were in need OF sup
plies and | can't see how any one
could censure DR.. Suddarth: and
especially the Health Board even If
it wasn't in accordance with their
wish, for giving me pass under
the circumstances.
II the Health Boards of our two
counties will cooperate with and
sustain DR.. Suddarth, and provide
some means, whereby he may be
enabled to destroy all contaminat-
ed property. which can't be made
safe by fumigation we will soon be
rid Of the disease.
But with a stand off, look-on CO.
operation, rather than brave the
Indignation Of few, our infected
section NAV. in time. reach even to
the county seats. d " BRATToN.
Dv way Of introduction, we wish
to state that it is not IN the spirit
of back talk to Mr.. Bratton tfat
this reply or comment On his letter
is nade-for the situation is too
serious for idle words-but it is
with the idea that more facts may
90 before the people in regard to
the way some have acted and are
continuing to act about the disease
at Bolar. with the hope that by so
doing, it may cause them to think
on the question as one of moment
and not a something entirely fanci-
full, requiring no thought by the
reople except their lightest and
most slightly remarks.
As the article to which Mr.. Brat
ton referred was not in quotations
nor carrying a signature, it was the
production of the publisher and
should be so considered.
We are not Informed on the du'
ties of Health Boards in furnish
ing supplies to persons under quar-
antine, but would consider 1t neceS-
sAry as to patients and suspects
| If the Board has made mistake IN
this. or has been negligent in it's
duty on this point, then that should
be held against it; but, at the same
time, it should be remembered that
this is a new Board entering INTO
it's first experience with a contag-
ious disease, and for this reason can
not he expected to handle the stu
alton and meet every emergency,
for we read of city health officers
who have more or less experience
Of this kind every year, who make
mistakes and serious ones very OF
ten.
Then, in addition, this Board was
placed. from the start, at the great
disadvantage of not having the CO.
operation of the people. Every
step it took was antagonized bitter
ly by large majority of those who
! had the disease in their homes and
at their doors. Against the efforts
of the Board spirit of braggadoalo
was rife, a disposition and a prac-
tice in disregarding its regulations
aud a disbelief lis to The real char
acter of the disease, all Of which
has tended to handicap the health
officers and physician, and render
them almost helpless in carrying
ont quarantine restrictions: Ia
the first nlaca when DR.. Suddarth
pronounced the disease smallpox
the citizens, of the community, II
they could not agree with then
physician, could have at least look
ed upon it as loathsome, contag,
ious disease, that Was not pleasant
to have around, and on these
grounds have set about in co-opera-
ton with DIR. Suddarth to check
the disease III the homes where II
first made its appearance. But, or
the contrary, it seems that some
have been DESTROYS that the disease
spread, and have expressed'the wish
that it would. Is this the correc
position for good citizen TO hol(
| in regard to disease that has beer
; pronounced small pox?
TO satisfy those VINO did no
! agree with DR.. Suddarth an exper
was sent for who sustained
DR.. Suddarth in his dag
: nosis, but an attempt has beer
made to counteract this by tn
statement that it was necessary TO