Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-10
EpIDEMlcs AND Tue LAW.

New York World, the citizens ana Tue
medical fraternity are at loggerheads.
in the very reverse order Of the situa-
ton IN many other places. a number
Of persons there are afflicted with what
they believe and insist Is smallpox. The
doctors declare 1t Is only aggravated
chIckenpox. quarantine has been es'
tabllshed. however which, under the
circumstances. is quite proper, ana
some patients have been sent to the iso-
latlon hospital
The difference OF opinion between the
patients ana the doctors may be set
lied after a while. and we hope we SHAH
not be sinothered under the pet an
uthemas Of some physicians who can
not brook dissent from their views II
we ada that II Is not unlikely that the
sufferers win prove TO have known
more about the nature Of their COM
plant. than the professional gentlemen
who have pronounced their ipse dixlt'
We may say, In eNtenuation OF the
crime Of doubling the decision Of the
doctors. that We are familiar with the
circumstances attending the siege OF
variola In ogden, many years ago
which the doctors at first unanimously
agreed was nothing but chickenpoN.
This reminds us that according TO
dispatches to the New York World from
81. Paul, Minnesota Is also afflicted
with an outbreak which Is there pro-
nounced smallpox. and the state Board
Of Health reports that there are forty
towns and townships where the dis
ease is epidemic. and many Of these are
In the lumber regions. II Is proper to
state in this connection. that the cause
is not traceable. or alleged to have
been occasioned by the circulation. In
those regions. Of the Deseret News.
We have been requested 20 explain
when disease may be properly des-
lgnated as epidemic. The literal signl-
ilcatlon OF the word is upon the peo'
pie" a disease must be general In or
der to be termed epidemic It must
ahiict the people or a great proportion
Of them Under the plain meaning Of
the term, there Is no epidemic in this
State and there has not been, alarmists.
ana persons interested In promoting
scares 70 the contrary Notwithstanding.
A contagious disorder may aflllct a
number Of persons and yet It may not
be epidemic Compare the number OF
the afflicted with the entire population,
and that will decide the question.
Il should be understood that the de-
clsion Of the majority Of the Supreme
Court Of the State IN the Cox case, was
based on certain alleged facts which
We're not denied by the relator Among
the most important OF these were that
there was danger from an epidemic Of
smallpox. and that vaccination was
"ihe only safe preventive" against t..
The case was decided on an appealed
demurrer. and its fun merits were not
discussed The statement OF facts pre-
scented was agreed to, and they proved
fatal to the cause although as Justice
Baskln clearly pointed out in his dis
senting opinion. the law does not au-
thorize the attempt Of the board Of
health to resort 20 indirect compulsory
vaccination. even II the conditions
stated were IN actual existence.
As win be seen elsewhere In this issue
Of the News, there are districts in
this county whore the rule supported
IN that decision is now enforced, whore
there is not only no epidemic but where
there Is not single case OF the disease
50 much exaggerated The people are,
very naturally. indignant az having
their healthy children denied the priv.
llege Of attending the district schools.
supported by the taxation OF the prop
erty OF the parents. IL Is measure
that should receive the attention Of tho
local boards OF health. 10 whom. and
not the State board which Is virtually
one extreme individual Is given the
authority in regard to the health "
the schools.
IN this county. the matter Is Ia the
hands Of the county commissioners with
the health officers Of their appointment.
They are not subordinate To- the state
board or It's secretary They are not
required 70 bow bnndly To- any edlct or
order emanating from that source. Tho
ruling Of the Supreme court does not go
to such a length as that There is mo-
need Tor extreme measures whore eX.
IRENE conditions do not exist. Utah
ought not 10 be heralded abroad as af-
flcted with pesulence, or suffering
under q raging epidemic. when she Is
as free from diseases that are cropping
UP In various parts OF the country as
the most healthful States in the Union
II an the provisions OF the health laws
Of the State are examined It win be
seen that there has been and is great
derellcton Of duty ON the part OF GER
tain health officers Who are raising
alarms. and that 90 those duties wcr,
faithfully performed There would b,
much less occasion chan at present ion
the attempt TO enforce measures of
doubtful efficacy and which are obnoX.
ious TO the great majority 81 this com.
munlty Il should also be understood
that the decision Of the Supreme court
was. by no means, the end % legal con.
troversy. 4 test can be made as 20 N,
alleged facts as well as the law. and
this win probably be done before long