The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-08
infectious Disease Cases Seldom
Reported to the Health
Authorities.
MANY NEW CASES OF MEASLES
Local Officials Will Take Steps to Pun
ish All Who Hereafter Neglect
to Promptly Report infectious
Sickness.

last evening that Is new cases OF meas
les had developed during the day. He
states that there are possibly 100 cases
in the city at the present time. and
that the situation is anything but re-
assuring. OF the cases which he dts.
covered yesterday nearly all are In the
central portion Of the city. and as to
the number of cases which may have
developed turing the day and not have
been reported to him he Is seriously
in doubt.
II appears that the people Of the city
are displaying unusual carelessness In
the matter OF reporting Contagious dis
ease, with the result that the health
authorities find 1t difficult to prevent
spread OF the disease which now Is
prevalent. II Ia a somewhat remark
able circumstance that many persons
welcome the disease TO their homes.
because of their conviction that their
children must certainly be taken down
some time and that II Ii better TO have
the trouble over with. Those persons
seem To- entertain absolutely no con-
slderatlon for their nelghbors. and fire.
quently the quarantine regulations are
disregarded.
IF people would report all cases OF
contagious disease. would be salts
fed" said DR.. Pllkington last even
ing. "The state law is complete enough
but the people will not obey It's terms.
Evidently 1t will become necessary for
us to make an example before We can
bring about proper observance OF the
law. and II is the intention hereafter
10 cause the arrest Of all persons vio-
lating the state law regulating con
/, tagIous disease.
| The state law includes measles In
the list Of contagious diseases, and the
regulations must he observed In cases
of measles as well as in scarlet fever
or dlphtheria cases. 1t provides a
heavy fine, or imprisonment, for failure
] to report all cases Of contagious dis
ease, but despite its vigorous terms
few cases were reported The law pro-
vides further for the manner in which
quarantine shall be placed on houses
in which infectious disease exists. and
It is specifically stated that children
living in such houses can not go to
fschool during the existence of the dis
ease, and, indeed, not until they have
secured a health certificate from the
attending physician after the quaran-
tine Is raised. am told there Is an
old school law which conflicts with the
state law, but OF course the state law
replaces any Of the school laws in this
respect.
There Is no possible chance Of stop
ping the epidemic unless all cases are
promptly reported, and I look for an
increase in the number Of cases II the
law is disregarded as 1t has been in the
past. The authorities will maintain
close watch hereafter and arrests will
certainly follow violations Of the law.
AS To quarantInes, the matter is not
an optional one with the local author
tiles. The law says they shall quar-
antine all cases of infectious disease,
and the terms OF the law must be
obeyed." :"
DR.. pilkington emphasized that chill
dren must not leave quarantined homes
during the prevalence of disease, and
that, in all cases where children live in
homes quarantined, health certificates
must be secured, whether or not the