The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-15

GUESTS OF a HOTEL ARE ANXIOUS
TO SECURE FREEDOM.
They Say They Have Been in Quar-
antine for Two Weeks, with No
Sign of Smallpox.

DIR. J. N Hurry, secretary of the State
Board OF Health, read a letter yesterday
from S z. ]. shockley. z. ]. Barrett and
ID. T. ConwelI, guests of the Ellis House,
a French Lick hotel, complaining against
quarantine order Of the French Lick health
officer which has kept them and other
guests of the house incarcerated for two
weeks. The men asked for information
about the quarantine law, and rather
pIaintively added 1--WE have begun to be-
lieve the health officer has forgotten US"
The health officer, the letter said. has not
called at the house since the smallpox
nag was nailed up. and the guests are
anxious to know how long they are 10 be
confined There has been no smallpox at
tne house in two weeks, the letter said,
aud 1t has been thoroughly fumigated.
After reading the letter DR.. Hurry said
that he would investigate the matter at
once and lind out from the health officer
at French Lick the exact status OF mat
ters. He could not make any statement
concerning the complaint, he said, because
ne is not familiar with conditions there.
AS 10 the quarantine law in force there,
Or. Hurry said IL is a general local Ordi-
nance. defining the duties of the town
health officers and town marshals and di-
prescribing penalties. Sections and of
the ordinance apply TO the confinement OF
the people in the French Lick hotel, DR..
Hurry said. These sections read as follows:
'All cases of cholera, typhus fever. yell
low fever, smallpox. diphtheria, memb BRAN
Gus Group scarlet fever, bubOnic plague,
leprosy or pulmonary tuberculosis shall be
Immediately reported to the town health
officer by the attending physician, If any,
otherwise by the householder, and ii shall
be the duty Of the town health officer to at
r,1a he
house where such disease exists, excepting
typhoid fever and tuberculosis, for they
shall be at once reported, but not quar-
antined. The card shall not be less than
twelve inches square with the name of the
disease thereon IN letters not less than two
inches in length IL shall be posted in a
conspicuous place and shall remain there
until removed or ordered removed by the
town health officer, and it shall be a mis-
demeanor TO mutilate or remove said card
except by the order of the town health Of
habitation shall not leave said habitation
or break the quarantine, and no shall
enter except by permission OF the health
of1ceT, ana all persons snail obey the direc-
tions OF the town health officer concerning
the care they shall take against carrying
the infection 10 others.
''In case OF smallpox IL shall be the duty
OF the town health officer TO isolate the
patient in the home where he or she is
found. or in case this is not practicable in
an isolation hospital established by the
Town Board. and where the patient is un-
able TO compensate physician or nurse or
provide all necessary attendance and food
the expense thereof shall be paid as other
town expenses. and those who have been
exposed TO smallpox shall be vacciEated
and disinfected In body and apparel and
given their freedom for ten days DrOvid-
Ing they viii faithfully promise TO surren-
der 20 the health officer at the end of ten
days from the first exposure TO be placed
IN quarantine until fifteen days from the
first exposure shall have elapsed or until
the health officer may appoint"