The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-13
Mr.. DALE ARRAIGNED
AS RESPONSIBLE FOR COUNTY
HEALTH CONDITIONS.
CHARGE MADE BY DR.. Drummer
WHO RELATES SMALLPOX sITUA-
TIoN AS REVEALED TO HIM.

DIR. Brunner's Statement as a Physi-
clan. Not as Health Oficer-NO
"Active or Intelligent Methods
Upon the part of Mr.. j. j. Dale and
the Four Marionettes Who Are
Supposed To Be Members of the
Board of County Commissioners"
DR.. Drummer SOys-COrrespOndenc
Between Sanitary Board and
County commissioners.
DR.. W F. Drummer is deeply concerned
over the health conditions in the county
outside of the city He has made several
trips into the country lately to investi-
gate for himself reports of smallpox that
had reached him. The county authorities,
he believes, have not taken the proper
steps to stamp out the disease. Efforts
he has made through the Sanitary Board
of the city having failed to bring about
the result he desired, he furnished the
Morning News yesterday a detailed state
ment of the conditions, as they have been
revealed to him. He desires it particu-
larly understood. however that he is not
making public the information and the
correspondence as health officer of Savan-
nah, but as a physician, though permits
sion to use the correspondence, was given
him by the Mayor. The following is Dr..
Brunner's statement:
TO the People of Savannah and of
Chatham County: There is serious con-
dition of affairs existing in this commu-
nifty which if allowed to continue must
result in the spread of a most loathsome
disease, and which must call eventually for
an enormous expenditure of money. / re-
fer to the smallpox epidemic in this coun-
~ which has prevailed since the begin
ming of the year, without any active or
intelligent methods upon the part of Mr.
J. J. Dale and the four marionettes who
are supposed to be members of the Board
of County Commissioners.
when the county authorities took
charge Of he situation there was a diff
ference of opinion between the city and
IIe county authorities as to whose bust
ness it was to look after and care for all
cases OF smallpox happening in the coun-
~ within two miles of the city limits.
While the city attorney was equally posi-
tive that IL was the duty of the county,
as the county attorney was that ii was he
duy Of the city to care for these cases,
the Mayor decided to look after all such
cases, pending a suit of the city against
the county. The city has continued since
then to carry out the same treatment of
smallpox cases, within the two-mile limit
as those within the city. There has been
no effort on the part Of the city to bring
this matter up for argument.
AT the request of the Mayor and
against my inclination, l appeared before
Mr.. Dale to give my view OF the proper
methods to prevent the spread of SMALL
pox. l advocated vaccination of all per-
sons in the county; prompt isolation of
III cases in their hospital. we'll as iso-
lation of all suspects found in a house
where smallpox patient had been dis
covered, for a period of fifteen days to
cover, the incubation OF the disease: dis
infection OF all infected clothing and 9TH
er material and disinfection of all infect
ed rooms and houses. l began to tell the
chairman of the County Commissioners
that in addition to these precautions it
was necessary to employ inspectors who
would fine-tooth comb the county for con-
cealed cases, as II was evident, that un-
less this was done it would be impossi-
bic TO discover more than ten per cent
of the actual number of cases occurring
in the county. AT this stage of the game
the expected occurred. l was Informed
that the county had a physician who I'M
NViSlOOu MS DuSlneSS, ana was perfectly
able to look after the health condition of
the county. In this / concurred and do
now provided the physician was not
hampered by lack of authority and of
funds
AT different times 1t had been reported
TO me that cases of smallpox were occur
ring In the county without any attempt
on the part of the authorities to locate
and care for the same, until. finally. in
May from reliable authority, / learned
that smallpox was prevailing, and had
prevailed, for some time, at Potter
Grove plantation. on the Savannah river.
l notified the county physician who went
TO that point and investigated the sitiia-
ton and his statement to me was TO the
effect that he had seen twenty or more
persons who had had the disease and one
woman who sim had It was seen escaping
from house. He said he had reported
this condition of affairs to Mr. Dale, and
he told him 10 await future develop
ments
y then visited the plantation and found
thirty-eight cases OF smallpox out of a
population of seVonty-six. When | say
thirty-eight cases, l mean those who had
had the disease and those who stin had
it. found that il first appeared at Pot.