Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-18
AS a Board of Health 1t Takes
Immediate Action In an
Emergency Case
MEETS SATURDAY AFTERNOON
DR.. Rosa Liebis. Special Humane Off
Ger. Brings Notice of a Case Before
the Body-Father Refuses to Allow
Sick Child to be Taken to Hospital,
and Board lnterferes.


loked after an emergency case Saturday
lafternoon, and disposed of its principal
Objectionable features in very short
time. Mr.. Mcbride, of the health and
sanitation committee, issued the call
for special meeting, held at 4 80, upon
information that was placed before him
by DIR. Rosa Liebig. special humane Of
ficer. A father, thru ignorance of the
| welfare of his own children, refused to
allow sick child to be taken to a hos
pital, and the board of health stepped
in and interferred. removing the child
from its den of filth to Singleton's hos
| pital, where 1t may have q fighting
chance for life, The step was not TAX
en- without trouble between the father
and the police.
| The sickness was case of typhoid
fever at 7o2 Noble street. Frank Will
son resides in the tumble down shanty,
destitute of any furnishings of comfort,
| and utterly devoid of the conveniences
| for caring for well people, to say Moth
ling of those on sick beds Water, Sc
cured from shallow surface well that
became famous last summer because OF
| its death giving qualities in the case
of the Highberger family, of 701 Noble,
has been used by the Wilson family,
and four cases OF typhoid, the only
known to have existed in the city, re-
suited. Mrs. Wilson died on January s.,
after receiving every care that could
have been given her under the miser-
able surroundings in which the family
lived. Three children had been Ill, and
all were convalescing at the time of
the mothers death. Five children COM
prise the family. the Oldest being boy
about Is, and the youngest babe OF
| 2. Bessie. aged 6. occupied the bed
with her mother, the only bed IN the
! house. In filth-c covered rags. called a
bed, were placed the other two children.
| Harry and Charlie. aged 10 and 5. on
| the 1lth, or week ago today, Harry
suffered relapse. because oil having
seen given diet of meat, crackers ana
! potatoes, by his father, who was car
ing for him. He grew worse at once,
and the attending physician. DIR. N. w.
iG;etz, told the father that the boy must
be taken TO a hospital, where he could
| receive proper treatment. The same adj
vice had been given before the mothers
/ death. but the husband. would not listen
| To Ii. altho the county offered to bear
Inn expense, and take each OF the pa
jtients in charge. DIR. Getz saw the lad
for the last time Friday morning, and
was informed by the father. by tele-
| phone, in the evening, that his services
were no longer required.
Reports Case to Humane Officer.
DR. Getz. insisting that the boy have
proper care, reported the case TO DIR.
Rosa Liebig special humane OFFICER.
who conducted personal investigation
saturday morning. DR.. Liebig laid the
information before the health and SAM
itation committee OF the council, and
Mr.. Mcbride issued the call for the
meeting. DR.. Liebig told of the circum-
stances, and the councils action was
| the result. DIR. Liebig said:
IT was notified by DR.. Getz that the
Wilson child had had relapse, AMI
was in a critical condition. The family
Lives at 70a Noble street, and the moth
err and three children have been sick
with typhoid fever. The mother died,
as is known. l went to the hbuse AMI
found the child in question lying IN a
bed without linen, with mans old
undershirt for nightgown, and coy
cred with dirty, ragged comforter
The boys temperature was l04, and MS
pulse very high. He complained OF be-
ling chilly at intervals, and yet the
father contended that he was much
better than the day before. The house
was In a filthy condition. everything
scattered about the floor, and he fam
lily eating a breakfast, cooked by the
father, from a dry goods box covered
with a newspaper. When the family
was first taken sick the poormaster was
appealed TO, and he went down to In
vestigate. He found the mother sick
In the only bed in the house. and the
children in one bed made of carpets and
rags, on the floor. He Immediately sen.
down bedstead, springs and mattress.
and the Associated Charities, neigh
bors. and others. furnished some cloth.
ing. The house Is very destitute of
furniture and. in fact, anything for
comfort and convenience. Mr.. Pember-
ton made arrangements with the
Singleton hospital to have them taken
there, but the father refused to al;
low them moved. Mr.. Pemberton sent
a nurse down the last week the woman
lived, and had her boarded out OF the
house. The house is so destitute of
that / could not find 4
teakettle or tin pan to heat some water
in which to wash a few cups and
glasses to be used for medicines The
smaller children have been sleeping in
the same bed with the sick child"
Boy is Removed.
Backed by resolution of the board
of health, City Health Physician Mich
OILS. accompanied by Chairman A.
Psenicka and Mr.. Mcbride. of the
health and sanitation committee. and
Deputy Marshal Cochran and Officer
Hurd. visited the Wilson home Sunday
forenoon. The father threatened the
party, saying they would be removed IN
pine, boxes if they entered the house.
1t was necessary for the police to use
force in order to get possession of the
patient, who was placed In an ambu-
lance and removed to the hospital VIII.
son was not arrested. Arrangements
were made to have the babe cared for
by neighbors. The other children are
not i'll at present, and with care 1T Is
thought will have no further trouble.
The resolution of the board of health
authorized City Health Physician Mich
OILS to investigate the premises care
fttliy nd roport IN the hoard Mt