News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-03-20
Health Omcer,s Dnties.

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Health Officers Duties.
EDITOR NEWS AND CITIZEN =
Dear Sir AS there has been consid-
cradle talk about the cases of scarlet
fever in the village, and not little criti-
cism from certain sources as to the
Health Officers actions in quarantining
the same, wish to state that have not
been the attending physician in any of
the cases, nor have | at any time seen
any of the patients, but have promptly
and r1gidly quarantined the same when
reported by the attending physician, as
prescribed by the State Board of Health,
under Section 4673, Vermont Statutes,
which is so concise and to the point that
anyone who will take the pains to read
1t can ascertain for themselves what the
duties of the Health Officer are in regard
to quarantining. The law referred to
reads as follows =
ARTICLE 1. The Health Officer of each
town and city, upon receiving notice of any
case OF small pox, cholery, yellow fever, diph-
iberia, scarlet fever, measles, or whooping
cough, as provided in Sec. 1854, Vermont
Statutes, shall Immediately post plain and
distinct notice, giving the name of the disease,
upon the house, tenement or premises where
such disease is reported to exist. He shall
also serve quarantine notice upon the head
! of the family in which the disease is said to
exist, according to one OF the forms herein
| after prescribed. Such notice shall be for
| full quarantine" in case the disease is one
Of the first five mentioned above, and for
| modified quarantine" in case it is measles
| or whooping cough.
Art. 2. No member of any family under
| full quarantine shall leave the house and
| premises during the existence of such quaran-
| tine, except by written permission of the
| Health Officer, and then only at such time
and under such circumstances as he shall pre-
| scribe.
No house or premises shall be released from
| quarantine until all persons and things Ii
| able to infection shall have been dsinfected
and rendered harmless, and written notice
| to that effect shall have been issued to the
head of the family, signed by the Health
| Officer
Art. 8. The Health Officer of each town
and city shall take all due precautions to the
end that his quarantine is respected, and
shall promptly prosecute any violation of
| quarantine as provided in Sec. 1850, Yer
mont Statutes; he shall personally superin-
tend the distinction and cleaning of houses
and premises when the quarantine is tern1in-
! ated.
There has been doubt expressed by
many as to whether the cases were
scarlet fever, but for this the Health
Officer is not to blame. He is absolutely
obliged to quarantine when notified by
the attending physician of the presence
of one of the aforesaid diseases, whether
he agrees with the diagnosis or not. In
fact, under the law he is not expected
to examine the patient or ever enter the
house until he does so to superintend
fumigation, nor can he raise quarantine
until notified by the attending physician
that the case has recovered. If the peo-
pie are dissatisfied with the diagnosis of
the attending physician, their only rem
edy is to discharge him and call in
another in whom they have more conf
dence, or else call for counsel.
There are those who say that the
Health Officers not seeing the patient
throws the whole responsibility on to
the attending physician. Very we'll.
Surprising the Health officer happened
to be the attending physician. He
would have then the responsibility OF
making diagnosis and quarantining
alone. unless he saw fit to call counsel.
Personally, have not refused, nor have
l been asked, to see the cases with any
one in consultation.
The Health Officer is required to super
intend the fumigation of houses, and
right here wish to say that the town
has not as yet seen fit to furnish the
proper apparatus for doing same (but
we are expecting better things in fu.
tu1e) and thus far we have been obliged
to resort to the crude and old-fashioned
method of burning sulphur; but ever
this, if carried out accordingto my direc
tons, would ensure the destruction O.
all disease germs. l cannot be expected
to camp out on the premises with shot
gun for "a hours to watch the sulphur
burn. am not ashamed to say that
have something else to attend to.
, My quarantine has not always beer
thoroughly respected, but the Law
makes it the plain duty of the Health
Officer to prosecute all cases of violation
and it is not yet too late to perform thi
duty however unpleasant it may be
The cases reported are of very milo
nature and it would seem that there i
no cause for alarm.
The position of Health Officer is
; thankless one, but while serve in tina
| capacity shall keep myself thoroughly
, posted as to the health laws OF the State
which, by the way, are being constantly
changed and improved by the legisla
, ture, and rigidly enforce same wlthou
fear or favor to anyone,
Very truly yours,
: w. T. SLAYToN, Health Officer.
HYDE Park, VT, March 19, 1907.