The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-28
DIPHTHERIA AT OAKLAND.
DR.. NicolI, County Health Officer, says
Quarantine Is Enforced.

The quarantine measures are enforced
in Oakland, says County Physician DR..
D. T. RicoH. He refutes the published
interview Of City Physician H. B. Hoge-
boom who claimed that funigation was
not being strictly enforced with regard
to the diphtheria cases in Oakland
DR.. Nicoll states that every house in
which diDhtheria exists or any other
contagious disease exists is being rigid
y quarantined.
II have offered through its president
to go before the city board of health
and show them what has been done
and consult as to future steps to pro
teet the city and county, but they evil
IDENTIFY preferred to take the statement
of some irresponsible person rather than
to make an effort to get at the truth, :"
said DR.. Nicon this morning
The fact Of the matter is that every
house in which diphtheria or any other
contagious disease exists is rigidly
quarantined, and notice served on the
people that if they attempt to leave the
house they will be subject to arrest. If
any person knows Of any such viola
ton, I win be glad to have them report
the matter to me, and proper action will
be taken over and over again I have
made a hurried trip to the Oakland disa-
trict, on the report that some one was
leaving an infected house, only to find
that there was absolutely no truth in
the report. One man I did find leaving
an infected house, his physician having
told him that if he lived in a detached
room he could do so; but I promptly
Quarantined him in with the rest of the
family until the house was finally fumi-
gated.
In the case of the Sheffield family
where DR.. HogeboOm says there was
no quarantine at all, and states that
the child died on Saturday, and the
house was not fumigated until Monday
until Friday and was reported to me by
the attending physician that afternoon
or evening. The house was quarantined
and carded before breakfast Saturday
morning. The child died Saturday af-
ternoon. The body was embalmed and
fumigated and taken to an undertaking
esta blishment for burial, on permission
of the city physician and myself. The
parents were fumigated and allowed to
leave the house and stay with friends
Sulphur and fOrmaldehyde torches were
at once started burning in the house,
and the house closed and exposed to the
fumes from Saturday night until Mon
day morning, when I personally inspect
ed the house, and, as the case was a
bad one, to make doubly sure. I burned
some more formaldehyde in it.
1T is stated that I gave some people
permission to do their own fumigating.
That is exactly the reverse of the truth,
a I have eInphatically refused to allow
this and insisted that it must be done
by the family doctor or myself to make
sure that it was properly done. and in
the one or two cases where it was done
by the family doctor I went out and in
spected the work that was being done
before allowing the card to be removed
from the house.
The question Of closing the schools
has been carefully considered. believe
that I can keep closer tab on conditions
there il the children are kept at school
than if they are allowed to run in the
streets. In the meantime the schools
have been frequently and thoroughly
funigated. The Sheffield child the only
one that has died in the whole Oakland
district of diphtheria since that district
was taken out of the care of the city,
had not been to school for a long time
before taking the disease.
In order that the public may be fully
advised of the conditions in Oakland
and vicinity I append a list of all con-
tagious cases existing there If any
one knows of any Of these families
brea king the quarantine law and are
prepared to substantiate their state
ments the parties break king the law will
be promptly prosecuted
Il will say further that the law re-
quires a physician finding contagious
case to himself card the house and
quarantine the family. but I have not
required the physicians to carry out the
ruling or the STATE Doafd OF HSdllH III
this respect. but have done it myself
.sDiphtheria cases in Oakland district:
.'Haggard. 1874 Emmett street, about
ready to fumigate.
watts, 1853 Emmett street. about
ready to fumigate.
Harris, corner Seward avenue and
/ Czrattan street
sDiphtheria cases in Oakland proper:
Wright, 372 Chester avenue.
Homer. former Green and Thomas
[ streets.
'sWn. JessuD, Winfield avenue G
/ cases..
"Commings. Michigan avenue.
There is also a use of scarla tina in
/ the family of Mr.. Thompson $50 Free
man avenue, which is about ready to
+ fumigate."
/ Thanksgiving Rates via Rock Island
Fare and one-third for the round
/ trip to points within zoo miles. Tick
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