The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-21
HE'S WHOLE THING
Why StOrrs' Methods Are Not
Rebuked.
City Board of Health Has No
Authority.
NOT In SYMPATHY.
Two Members of Board Would
Let Public Know.
Complete Revision of Health
Laws May Result.
IN SYMPATHY.

DR.. c. F. MenniQger takes exceptions
to the State Journals statement that
the health department has had change
of heart. and is now inclined to give
out information about the epidemic of
scarlet fever in Oakland.
I'VE have had no change of heart"
said DR.. Menninger today. I'VE have
not been IN sympathy with DR.. Storrs'
methods from the start. We believe that
all information of value to the public
should be published. DR.. Storrs is the
whole thing, SO far as the executive
power of the health department is con-
cerned. DR.. Plummer and myself have
absolutely no power whatever. Even
! though 1 am chairman of the board of
health L can't even call meeting.
When DR.. Storrs first started in an
his policy which has aroused so much
opposition, DR.. sPlummer and 1 talked
the matter over and decided that 1t
would be best for US to keep out of the
fight as much as possible and not str
up any trouble. Even if we had tried
to pass a vote of some kind directing
the city physician to change his course
what good would it have done! Dr.
! S<Orrs is not under our control. He
could DO exactly as he pleased about it
If DR.. Storrs wanted to say to me that
l should not have access to the records
of the department, l don't know how
could get them. L don't know who Dr.
Storrs is anSwerable to. I'm sure. Even
the mayor can not remove him, UNDER
stand.
THE only solution for the difficulty
is complete revision of the city ordl-
nances governing the organization OF
| the health department. We can draw
up such ordinances as we see fit, and
present them to the council for pass
age. We can clearly define the duties
and powers of the city physician and
the board of health 1 believe that we
| should also fix up this milk and food
inspection business, too. while we are
about it. Certainly the ordinances
should be revised"
SCARLET FEVER SITUATION.
DR. Menninger states that the scar
let fever in Oakland is dangerous
chiefly because people do not know
what the disease is. Most of the cases
are mild. and no doctor is called.
From just such cases, however, the
most dangerous kind of scarlet fever
can originate. Had it not been for DR..
Menninger's pubic spirited act of
warning the people of Oakland, de-
spite the city physicians orders to the
contrary, the conditions out there
would no doubt have soon been equal
to some of the otheE epidemics which
DR.. Storrs has been instrumental in
cultivat ting.
1.-The people out at Oakland says
DR.. Menninger, "call this disease
searletina' or scarlet RASH This
seems to indicate to the popular mind
a sort of mild scarlet fever. AS a mat
ter of fact, the disease which is very
prevalent at Oakland is just as dam
gerous as any kind of scarlet fever.
Most Of the cases out there are with
children. The disease manifests itself
first with the red rash Sometimes
there is no preliminary sickness what
ever. In many cases no physician has
been called, the patient recovering with
out medical aid. But from these cases
others have spread, because of the fact
| that no quarantine has been establish
ed. Some cases which I have treated
originated with this mild form of the
disease, and resulted in dangerous sick
ness. Vigorous methods should be ta-
ken by the people living in Oakland to
stamp out the malady. Every case
which is known of should be reported,
and the house should be guaranteed.
Only in this way can the epidemic be
controlled
With DR.. Menninger, chairman of the
board; DR.. Plummer, the other mem
Der; DR.. Ryder, chairman of the health
and sanitation committee, and other
members of the health committee all
working in harmony,it looks as though
| Topeka ought soon to have a new lot
of health laws which will be of some
value, and which will serve to put hoops
around the swelling dimensions of the
| city physicians power.