Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-07
SANITATION AND QUARANTINE


restrained in their assaults upon weak
humanity, without sanitary measures
supported by quarantine regulations
when necessary. This has been proved
In relation to smallpox as well as other
disorders. Statistics from public re-
cords-not unsupported newspaper fig
ures, which some doctors copy and re-
peat, Notwithstanding their untruth
and absurdity-show conclusyely that
even vaccination proves failure with
out sanitation and quarantine.
The epidemics In European countries,
and particularly in England, have not
been at any time overcome without the
measures we mention. Thoroughly
vaccinated towns have been swept with
disease and death from smallpox, until
sanitation and the isolation Of the af-
fiicted have been thoroughly estaD-
lIshed That course has made plain the
truth OF the proposition we have here
set forth.
The health laws Of Utah. as they
stand on the statute books, are ample
to meet the issue. Even admitting all
the exaggerations, and guesses, and
other means adopted TO frlghten the
public and damage Utah In the eyes of
surrounding States. our laws are suf-
dcient to establish and maintain sani-
tary and quarantine regulations. The
trouble Is, they are not carried out
The officers upon whom the duty Is I'm
posed to see TO their enforcement, have
shameflflly neglected them and set their
energies 10 work to shut out healthy
children from the schools.
What smallpox there IL In Utah-we
do not speak Of the contagious rash
over which doctors diffeI--was brought
here from Butte, Montana, where, by
the by compulsory vaccination has
been resorted to. II the laws concerning
infection and the quarantine on rail-
ways had been carried out this might
have been prevented. Instead Of per-
forming this duty and quarantInlng af-
icted persons, destroying or dlsinfect-
ing clothes. goods. ETC., brought into
This State, as required by law, the auto
cratic health officer has been soaring the
community with hldeous pictures, send
ing forth misleading and grossly ex-
aggerated accounts OF conditions here
and causing the suggestion, which was
started in this city that Utah might be
quarantined by other States,
There have been more deaths from
diphtheria and scarlet fever in Utah
than from smallpox, even taking the
false figures of the health officer They
need measures for stamping out" more
stringent than any undertaken or sug-
gested. for the arrest Of the smallpox
that has appeared In such mild form
In the State. What is being done In
this particular DiphtherIa has come
among us In malignant form. II Is
dangerous to life Would 1t not be O
good thing for health officers to give
some instructions to the people, In
reference TO this fatal and awful dis
ease9 Chh they not spare time to dc
something to check its spread, Instead
OF fighting the schools?
II quarantine Is necessary against
the mild rash which disables nobody
but against which all the noise has
been made, how much more IL 1t es'
sentlal against dlphtheria and scarle
feverg The Deseret News has contend
ed for the enforcement of sanitary
measures and for quarantine wher
needful, as provided for by law, at al
times when the subject Of the public
health was in question. We do SO TO-
day Therein lies the safety Of oui
people. Vaccinate everybody who II
willing to submit, But that will MOI
stop typhoid, nor scarlet fever no,
diphtheria. II does not hinder people
from contracting the kind Of small
pox" that we have here, as scores o
well authenticated cases prove beyon'
dispute.
The idea that healthy school chill
dren, who do not travel, are menace
to surrounding regions because they 81
70 school unvaccinated, is notion
worthy Of the logic CD Of our health Off
GERS, who do not seem able to under
stand simple proposition In reasoning
They do not attempt 20 compel trav
elers to be yaccinated, and yet talk o
the danger to the States where the!
70 to. from healthy children who sta!
az home,
What Utah needs today Il sensible
sanitation. A general cleanup. TIL,
destruction Of all decaylng matter tina
can be burned or buried, Good ventlla
tion of homes and other buildings
Cleanliness OF person and premises an,
surroundings. Careful isolation Of per
sons afflicted with contagious disorder
OF any kind. officers who will atten,
10 the enforcement Of needful regula
tlons, not physicians who are az
fiicted with monomania, and who woul
as soon think Of flying TO Mars as o
poking their noses into infecte
places, and ordering sanitary measure
OF d practical kind such as the Law
ana not their whims require.
The reports sent forth concernln
Utah's health condition are simply in
famous. They deceive the public an
defame our state. They are responsible
for the stupid suggestion about stop
ping travel from Utah. one Of the mis-
cradle subterfuees adopted 10 defea
the legislation which simply make
plain the law in reference TO the power