Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-02-19

right OF the city board OF health and
the public to know these things and
DR.. Longeway made the following re.
marks: IL am here to settle this mat
ter in an amicable ann and II is
necessary for me TO find out the full
particulars. It would be wrong to
quarantine Gilt Edge IL 1t were not
necessary and it would also be wrong
to lift the quarantine II the time for
such action had not come; I think
that all proceedings of the board OF
health should be public and I am not
here to get into any heated argument,
but to see that the matter is settled
in the right manner"
r. Won Tobel stated that 1t was a
fact that at no time was information
forthcoming from the county health
officer. who turned aside all queries
in a very abrupt manner.
DIR. Longeway said; IF we are go
ing to obtain good results as the board.
of health we must e~nlighten the public
on the subject and obtain their co
operation. The way In which the gen.
eral public look at the matter is Why
IL a doctor can go into an infected
district with impunity. cannot a lay.
man do the same? 1t is necessary to
explain these things"
DIR. Wilson said that he fumigated
himself very often and in his opinion
the whole thing was the result Of his
lifting the quarantine at Gilt Edge.
DR.. Longeway mentioned that the
first complaint received by him was
owing to the fact that the infected
houses in Gilt Edge had not been
properly fumigated. to which DR.. Will
son replied that it was extremely hard
to fumigate some of the residences in
a thorough manner on account OF their
construction.
DR.. Longeway said that in a case
of that kind the process of fumigation
should be repeated and IL not effectual
the board of health was empowered
to destroy houses IL necessary. He
further said to the county health Of
ficer: There has been considerable
misunderstanding here. you have felt
hurt. the people have felt hurt, and
| think that If the people and the
health authorities could come togeth.
err the matter could be arranged in
a satisfactory manner The laws are
very specific in regard to the regulat.
ing of contagious diseases and all nee.
essary expenditure must be met by
the county commissioners"
The following section of the code
VISA quoted by the doctor. showing
the power of the board of health.
1.-THE board has power and authority
to enforce a quarantine until the same
is raised by 1t and may confine any
person affected or likely to spread an
infectious Or contagious disease in 4
suitable detention hospital prepared
and used for that purpose, or II nc
place is prepared by the county ther
such persons shall be quarantined ii
his or her home or abode"
DIR. Longway quoted an opinion o.
the attorney general in reference t.
school children. in which he stated
That in the event of there being any
danger of a general outbreak of small
pox the school board and the loca
health authorities may order all chill
dren v%accinated, but in ordinary cases
this cannot be enforced" DIR. Wilson
was asked how long he kept patients
under quarantine, and he said unit
the symptoms of the disease disap
peared. DIR. Longway said that it wal
impossible to stamp out the diseas,
without those afflicted were closel,
confined until every sign Of the dis
ease had disappeared and the cuticul'
entirely healed up. which sometimes
tok as long as six weeks to com,
about.
r. Won Tobel cited the case of Ear
ly, who was turned loose inside of twt
weeks, to which DR.. Wilson reptile,
that he had been sick some time be
fore he was taken to the pest hous,
and that every precaution had beef
taken.
On learning that there was no de
t~ention hospital in Lewistown DR.
Longeway advised the institution o
one and stated that it was impossible
to hold suspects on a moral quaran
tine.
r. Won Tobel said that the creates
trouble was that nobody had been abb
to work in harmony with anybody an,
the first case In the city vas not evei
reported to the city authorities. DR.
Wilson said that at that time Their,
was no board of health. but that wa
disputed and Mr.. Won Tobel said tina
the mayor a surely entitled to som
consideration at the hands OF th'
county health officer. THE truth o
the matter" said Mr.. Won Tobel. If
that DR.. Wilson is running everything
on his own hook and to HI will
everybody else"
The statement is false. absolutel,
false" said DR.. Wilson and DIR. Longe
way mentioned that every case shout,
be reported as the city ordinance
and the state laws provided. DIR. Wi
son said he did not mean TO snub tn,