The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-14
HAD NOTHING To SAY
COMMISSIONERS DECLINED TO DIS
CUSS DIR. BRUNNER's CHARGES.
THE COUNTY IS ALL RIGHT.
SAYS COUNTY PHYSICIAN t. b. CHS
HOLM IN REPORT TO BOARD.

DR.. Chisholm Finds an Error or Two
in DIR. Brunner's Statement OF
Facts-Never Said He Had Been
Able to Do Nothing with Smallpox
on Burnside IsIand-ToId What
Has Been DOne-County Has Done
Everything Possible and Question
of Expense Has Never Been Con-
sidered-COmmission Intend to
Make No Further Reply to Sani-
tary Board.
Chairman J. J. Dale and the members
of the Board of County Commissioners
declined yesterday to discuss the charges
made against them by DR.. w. F. Drummer,
health officer of the city. relative to the
manner in which they have dealt with
the cases of smallpox THAT have existed
in the county
Il have nothing to say on the subject"
said Mr.. Dale. when the matter was
preached TO him, and Vice Chairman
Moore and the others preserved a like
rettcence The only answer made to the
charges of DR.. Drummer was furnished by
County Physician T. b. Chisholm, at the
meeting of the commissioners held during
the afternoon.
Abiding to the article from DIR. Brun-
ner that had appeared in the Morning
News, Mr. Moore asked for report from
the county physician on the manner in
which the cases of smallpox had been
dealt with. The report was made, read
at the meeting of the board, and by res
olution of the board was received as in
formation and ordered spread upon the
minutes. 1t was the only notice taken by
the board of DR.. Brunner's charges Some
discussion of the matter probably took
place in caucus, but after the commits
sioners had entered the long room in
which the public meetings are held, they
were as dumb as oysters.
The report of the county physician
which was read by the clerk of the
board, was as follows:
In response to your request for report
I beg to submit the following: In regard
to the smallpox at Potters Grove, 1 re-
ported the matter to Judge Dale and he
directed me to take immediate action to
apprehend and suppress it, which steps l
promptly took.
L. Is mistaken WEen ne says
that on June told him that 1 had been
unable to take any action with reference
to smallpox at Burnside Island. On the
contrary, 1 told DR.. Drummer 1 had man
there investigating and trying to find
smallpox. In addition to this man have
had parties at Montgomery and Shipyard
right across the creek from Burnside, who
would report all cases of smallpox to me-
Rewards have also been offered by me
he for -
to the county.
LAS far as l have been able to learn
after a thorough investigation, there is
now no smallpox at Burnside or Potter's
Grove. In connection with the Burnside
smallpox / attach hereto a report, based
on a house-to-house inspection for small
pox, made by a party employed by the
county, under my direction. l may add
in conclusion that every effort practicable
has been made by the county authorities
to apprehend smallpox, care for it and
prevent its spread, and the question of
expenses has never entered into the mat
ter at ALL
The special report shows that there
has not been a case of smallpox on
Burnside Island since last March, when
there were a few. Some of those marked
with the smallpox pits were found to
have had the disease thirty-five years ago
and not since.
There are only a very few cases, GER
tainly not more than half a dozen, now
at the Log Cabin Retreat" by which
figure of speech the county authorities
refer to the county pest-house. A staff
of nurses and attendants is maintained
at the retreat and DR.. Chisholm gives it
his personal attention. 1t is said by the
county authorities that very needed ap-
pMance for the comfort of the patients
and their treatment is kept on hand at
the retreat.
Chairman Dale was asked IL the COM
missioners intended making any further
answer to the last communication from
the Sanitary Board than was contained
in his letter of last Saturday. He said
they did not, adding that the commi ssion-
ers never seemed able to please the San
tary Board in the matter of correspond
ence and that there was but little use to
try.
Mayor Myers was asked IL any action
by the city would follow the publication
of DR.. w. F. Brunners statement rela-
tive to che smallpox situation that APP
peared in the Morning News yesterday.
He replied in the negative, saying that
it remained to be seen what the county
authorities would do to correct the con-
ditions.
DR.. Drummer, the Mayor said, did not
represent the Sanitary Board in making
public the statement The Mayor had
told him that 1t should not be published
as coming from the board. but that he,
as a private citizen. might publish il.
CHANGE IN POSTAL RULES.