The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-25
PEST HOUSE REOPENED
Smallpox Makes This Necessary
No Attempt at Quarantine.

In addition to hundreds of other cases
of contagious diseases in Topeka. small
pox is securing hold and City Pnysi-
clan W. D. Storrs has been forced to re-
open the pest house. 1t is claimed that
patient was taken out there Saturday,
secretly.
Everything is done secretly nowadays
by the city physician, and there may be
any number Of cases of smallpox at the
hospital or anywhere in town, and the
public would be kept in the dark about
it if 1t is possible for the city physician
to do so.
DR.. Lowry. secretary Of the state
board of health, reports that there 1000
cases of measles reported to him In the
state. Topeka does not report. Storrs
seems to have decided that he is bigger
than the state itself He has trampled
successfully on public opinion, and now
he proposes to take a whirl at the state
laws.
A reporter for the State Journal called
up DR.. Storrs today and asked him in
regard to the reopening of the smallpox
pest house. Storrs would not even an
swer the civil question in civil manner.
He hung up the receiver without a word.
This was no particular surprise to the
reporter who was soliciting information,
but 1t simply served to illustrate the in
comparable arrogance of the individual
who now is burdened by the ponderous
title Of city physician.
The city ordinance specifically re-
quires the city physician to keep a rec
Olu VI dAA cases OI COnLdElOuS QiS6aGE
sent to the pest house. This record is
for the purpose of preventing abuses of
power by the city physician. It is in
tended for the public, just as are all the
records Of the health department. A
reporter asked the sanitary sergeant to-
day for permission to see this record.
i give out no information about con-
tagion,' said the sergeant
Have you such a record as the ordi-
nances require2"
7 suppose the records are being kent
all right
Who was the person taken to the
You'll have to see DR.. Storrs for any
infOrma tion.'
A man who is as wen posted in regard
to the sanitary condition of the city as
anyone not directly connected there
with, said today:
Not more than two-thirds of the
contagious diseases in Topeka are quar-
antined by the city physician. Storrs
has tackled a job which is too big for
him, in trying to buck the public. Peo-
pie have no confidence in him, and will
not report cases of contagion 20 him. [
know it to be a fact that scores of
case of measles are now in existence
in Topeka, with not the slightest ar
tempt to card them or protect the pub
lie in any way. And in spite of it ALL
Storrs refuses to tell the truth about
the situation"
AS an Illustration of the lack of con-
uQence Wnlcn the PUBIC mas IN SlofTSs
may be cited the case Of a woman who
called up the State Journal Office today
and said:
There is a case of diphtheria right
near where live at Twelfth and Mon
roe. The card is up there, but the peo-
pie go and come just as they please.
can't see that the health department ID
doing anything to enforce the quarap-
tine. People down here are getting con-
siderably worked uD about it, and we
know it won't do any good to complain
TO the city physician What shall we
do to make these people obey the quar-
antine2"
When it comes to the pass where the
people of Topeka call up the newspaper
offices and ask how they can enforce a
quarantine which the city health off,
GERS won't enforce. isn't it about time
ment?