The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-01
PROTECTION
DEMANDED
CITIZENS MEET AND DISCUSS
SMALLPOX SITUATION.
BOARD OF HEALTH ROASTED
Council Instructed to Take Pre-
caution Against Further
Contagion.
BOARD OF HEALTH ROASTED

A case of smallpox was discovered
in the Hye1 lodging house on North
Twenty-seventh street Wednesday, but
the patient was not taken to the pest
house nor the room fumigated until
that night.
The man, whose name is E. G. Red
ding, was taken from the house be-
tween 9 and 10 O'Clock p. NJ, down
the front way to a wagon waiting to
convey him to the pesthouse, and the
bedding dragged down the same way
while a number of citizens were pass
ing along the street, no %precaution be-
ing taken to protect passersby from be-
ing exposed to the disease. There is
a rear exit to the house and it is con-
tended that the man should have been
taken out by this route. The room is
the same one from which another case
of smallpox was taken two weeks ago.
Redding at that time had been
rooming with the man taken sick, but
on going to the pesthouse at the time
was refused admittance, and his tax
ing the disease later and exposing
many people is believed to be the out
come. The manner in which Redding
was taken from the place created no
little stir and was partially the
of a citizens meeting being called at
the council chambers yesterday after
noon, which was attended by about rs
prominent men of the city.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor Yegen, who was then elected
chairman, and Austin North, secre-
ta1y.
H. F. Clement stated the object of
the meeting. He said that the city
was confronted by a proposition which
demanded Immediate action.
He stated a contention had arisen
between the city and county as to
who should stand the expense of keep
ing the smallpox patients and estab-
fishing and maintaining guarantees.
He reviewed the fact that the county
collects a poor tax for the care of the
poor and INDECENT, while the city has
no fund and collects no such tax, and
is therefore not able to care for them.
Out of the 200 votes in the county,
he said, Billings casts about 1000 and
therefore pays over two-thirds of the
poor tax. Mr.. Clement further stated
that in his opinion the county should
bear the expense of the care of all
cases, even though the cases break
out in the city, as most Of them have
resulted directly from the outside.
Geo. Bennighoff gave a resume OF
the whole smallpox matter since the
winter of 1899.
DR.. E. P. Townsend, physician in
charge Of the smallpox patients by
appointment from the county COM
m%issioners, and also city physician,
was called upon. He gave a history
of the matter, saying that most of
the cases originated in the grading
camps on the Burlington's Toluca-
Cody branch. The doctor stated chat
up to date there had been 46 cases in
the pesthouse.
DR.. Townsend said that if anyone
doubted the cases were smallpox, he
would suggest that a committee be ap-
pointed to go out and investigate.
The doctor said that he was try
ing to do his duty, and that when
he was appraised of a case of smallpox
he did not intend to refrain from
quarantining, even though it was not
known who was to pay for the same.
j. B. Herford, city attorney, spoke
of the duties Of the city board of
health, saying that the city physician
had no right to quarantine on his own
authority. In his opinion the county
is running the pesthouse, as the com
missioners had it opened last fall and
DR.. Townsend was engaged by them to
care for the patients. He thought,
that in view of this fact, DR.. Town
send could instruct the sheriff to es-
tablish quarantine.
w. M. Johnston said that the matter
was one to be decided in the courts be-
tween Mr.. Herford, city attorney, and
Mr.. Hathhorn, county attorney. He
thought the matter should be allowed
to go on and the physician keep a
record OF the city and county patients.
Quite a discussion arose between
Mr.. HEREFORD and Mr.. Johnston, the
question being as to who should bear
the expense of quarantinlng. Mr..
Johnston commended that there was
nothing for the citizens to do.
f. II. Hathhorn, county attorney,
also gave his ideas of the matter, say
ing that he citizens could do nothing /;
that the question could be decided
between the city and county in the
courts.
G. A. Griggs thought a more strict
quarantine should be observed in the
law, which compels physicians to re-
port to the city authorities as SOON as
they know of contagious diseases. He
vas in favor of the city appointing