Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1904-01-27
Explains in Detail why He Does Not Believe No.
tice Tacsed on the House Where the Disease
is Does Any Good--Favors System Now in
Vogue Here.
THE DOCUMENT CONCERNS EVERY HOME
EVERY HOME.
AENT CONCERNS

ia misunderstanding. Those with
whom 1 have talked in this matter
have failed to note that I make dis
tinction between isolation and quar-,
antining. BY isolation methods, |
mean that those suffering from the
disease shall be confined to quarters
by themselves, and I do not believe
that quarantining of the rest of the
family accompllshes as much good as
does sunlight, fresh air and cleanli-
ness, and it has been the experience
of hygienists and physicians from
earliest history, that these three great
est disinfectants have accomplished
more good In stamping out contagious
diseases than anything else. Contag
ious diseases seem to find their origin
in dark, ill-ventilated and uncleanly
communities.
1t does not seem right to me, that
because one child of family of eight
is suffering with an attack OF scarlet
fever or diphtheria, and that child is
cared for in room separated from
the others, that the seven other little
ones remaining, should pc imprisoned
with tho sick, thereby being exposed
to the danger, and, in all probability,
with greater loss of life, than by
allowing them circulation in fresh air
and sunlight.
Every man, with any practical ex-
perience, knows that he can oonfinea
contagious disease TO Que or two
members of large family, when
allowed some freedom, and, further,
that when he locks them all up to-
gether, he invariably has every mem
ber of the house to take care of, and
a greater mortality.
1t has been my contention, not al
together based on personal experience,
bat based upon many articles written
by some of the ablest men in this
country, and by frequent interviews
with sanitary officers aud health
authorities of different places, that i,
is far more difficult to accomplish as
good result by placard system, as
it is without. In every community
whore the placard system exists, there
is tendency on the part of the physic-
ian to withhold his reports of con-
tagious diseases, and no successful
Board of Health ever existed that do
not work in perfect harmony with the
medical men of their section.
l believe that every physician in
every community is just as much an
officer of the public health as any
lawyer is an officer of every court
He is bound not only by his legal
obligations to protect the public
health, but by stronger tie, that OF
the moral obligations of a physician
to his fellow man, and l, therefore,
believe that by the harmonious action
of the medical profession with the
Board of Health of different sections,
greater result for public good can be
accomplished, than by assuming that
power which the Board of Health
i possesses, which practically amounts
to nothing more than police power.
We are dependent upon the physic-
ians for the diagnosis; we are depend
ent upon them for the information ;
we are dependent upon them for the
care of the case; we are dependent
upon them for the care of the family /;
and they are dependent upon us only
for the enforcement of the laws, and
thereby accomplish the desired effect,
in cases which they are unable to
control by persuasion or the use of
common sense.
have found, within the last year,
that the law in the majority of places
has been changed; instead of reading
that "Placards shall remain thereon
Continued on page 2