Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-25
.Epidemies and the Public.

field that it's readers were entitled to
know the exact facts. There has new
er been any disposition on its part to
treat matters of this character in
sensational way, or in manner to
cause undue apprehension. Panic may
sometimes be worse than disease in a
community, and nothing in our judg-
ment creates panic so quickly and so
surely as the feeling that the officials
and the press are holding back infor-
nation, in an endeavor to keep the
public from knowing the situation.
Such a feeling is sure to ripen into
q conviction that matters are really
worse than they appear to be upon the
surface. This breeds uncertainty, sus-
picion and inevitable panic. The
Journal has always felt that it was the
duty of officials and of the press, to
take the public into it's confidence and
give them all the facts concerning
the cases of contagious diseases. This
policy has occasionally called forth
protests from various parties who
believed in a policy of concealment,
but such protests have never swerved
the Journal one iota from the straight
line of what it conceived to be it's
plain duty to it's readers. Let there
be no misunderstanding on this point
The Journal purposes to give it's
readers the plain facts regarding cases
of contagious diseases in the COM
munity it serves so far as they are in
its possession. Requests to suppress
such facts will in the future as in the
past be courteousIy, but firmly re-
fused. "
The rights of the general public in
matters of this kind are greater than
those of any individual citizen.
Fortunately we have at hand a
practical illustration of the correctness
of the Journals position. When the
scarlet fever first started in this city,
the people We're utterly at loss to
account for the spread of the disease.
Houses would be quarantined, only to
have the disease break out in some
other section of the city without any
apparent reason. Children who had
scarcely been out of doors at all. were
among the victims. People became
thoroughly alarmed. There was
something mysterious and inexplicable
in the situation. The public was in a
state bordering upon panic. Many be-
lieved that the air itself was full of
disease germs and that every wind
that blew was spreading the contagion
The Investigations of the board OF
health, the results of which were
published in full in the Journal did
much to quiet this apprehension. 1t
showed that there had been no atmos-
pheric contamination, and that al
most every case in the city could be
specifically traced to a definite source
of infection. The general sense of re-
lief that came from a definite knowl-
edge of the facts of the situation is al.
most beyond comprehension. There
was no more mystery: no more crop
ing about in the dark.
There can be no greater danger in q
community than ignorance of the
facts. 1t is not enough that measures
should be taken for preventing those
suffering from the disease, or imme-
diately exposed to it, from communi-
eating it to others. 1t is quite as i'm
portant that those, removed from con-
tagion should know how to keep them
selves and their families from coming
In contact with it. 1t is impossible il
city of this size to maintain the strict
quarantine that would be enforced in
larger places. A good deal must be
entrusted to the honor of those in
whose midst contagion exists to sec
to it that quarantine regulations are
rigidly observed in accordance with
the plain requirements of the law.
1t is impossible to station an officer
ease exists; but there is ample law
upon our statute books for the punish
ment of any person, who would DELHI
erately and knowingly jeopardize the
public health.
Great care will have to be exercised
during the period of lconvalescense OF
those now sick to seesthat the work OF
disinfection is thoroughly done. With
q ,eareful washing up i'm antiseptic So
buttons and a proper use of Tornado
hyde, much can be done to prevent
further Infection, and bring the exist
ing epidemic to close. The Journal
feels that the Board of Health and our
local physicians may be depended upon
to cooperate heartily and intelli-
gently in attaining this end.
The journal cannot but indulge the
hope that We have seen the worst OF
the present situation, and that, from
now out, conditions will steadily inn
prove. Meanwhile the public can aid
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