The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-27
Proper Isolation of Smallpox
Patients Not Observed at
Callister Residence.
EPIDEMIC OF DISEASE
HAS BROKEN OUT
Case Should Be Investigated by
Health Commission and
Responsibility Fixed.

A number OF cases of smallpox are re-
ported from X street, and In that Sec
tion of the town, and the facts indicate
that there has been serious laxity In
the observance of the quarantine laws
Tho disease has broken out in the lam
lilies OF E. J. Mldslcv g. X street. James
Chalker. 123 X street; James S, carleton.
So Second street. Archibald Erskinc. ID
First street, and G. II. Knight, l4'
South Seventh East etrcet. md from In
formation TO hand it appears that the
failure to properly quarantine the fam
lily OF E. H. Calllster, $50 G. street, who
have been afflicted with the disease for
Some weeks, Is almost cirectly RESPONSE
Bile for tho epidemic,
Had Disease for Weeks.
A week ago the attention of the au-
thorities was called TO the Callister case
The diesase had been In the family for
weeks. according TO Or. Paul assissilili ia 1li
says, informed him that DR.. A: w. Bur
rows, who was consulted, said the uls-
case was. not smallpox, and ne did ho1
care who said IL was. DIR. BURROWS nov"
ever, denies having been consulted. OUT
certain 1t ie, no quarantine was esthp-
Nshed. Mr.. Callister did not permit the
children to 10 to school Wnen tney com
menced TO break out, but prior TO tnat
tlmo they had been In regular attendance
and virtually no restrictions were placed
on the family.
Quarantine Is Established.
on Thursday, April l9, the city au-
thorities investigated the cases ana OF
This order embraced the entire FAMILY,
including Mr.. Callster. ~ day OF Two
afterward Mr.. Callister telepnoned rie me
assistant city physician for release. ms
was refused. DR.. 7. B, Beatty Of the
State Board Of Health, however, grant,
ed a certificate that Mr.. Callister hao
certificate having been given, there was
nothing for the city authorities TO 90
but fumigate Mr.. Callister's clothing, as
Is usual in such cases, ana release MIN
No Isolation Ordered.
But Dr. Paul holds that the evidence
did not convince him that Mr. Caiilste5
had had smallpox and had recovered. ana
Dr. Beatty did not attend him, and IL Air
Callister suffered from the c-scaSc why
was he not quarantined accoroin6 10
law? A family infected with the disease
is supposed to be isolated for SIX weeks
three weeks to permit the scourge 10 run
its course, and three weeks after Last
week ono of Mr.. Callisters daughters
called upon Dr. Paul and asked 10 be
permitted 10 return TO scnoois She Ieu
only been out of school two weeks Or.
Paul states and ought not to have oeen
out OF the house then, according 10 quni-
antine regulations.
Statement by DR.. Beatty.
DIR. Beatty states that he was called
In by Mr. Callister in his private capacity
ns a physician and not as public, Of
ficer. MIR Callister Ind suffered from
the disease in a very mild form, as had
also one OF his daughters, but both hao
recovered and he signed the certincate
stating that they could bo fumgated and
released Several weeks had elapsed, Dr
Beatty states, since Mr. Callister had
suffered from the disease and the date OF
his release and he considered that IT was
a hardship to keep Mr. Callister longer
in the house.
Children Caught Contagion.
Tho assumption is however, that the
children In the other families now az
nicted by the disease caught the con-
tagion from the Callister children, either
at school or In their close association
with them after school hours. The Midg-
lev. Carleton and Chalker children at
tend the Lowell school where the Collis-
ter little ones are being educated. 1t is
understood that one of the Erskine girls
through negligence or some other cause
an epidemic OF a terrible scourge is the
result
Epidemic Should Be Investigated.
1t is the duty of the properly consttut-
ed authorities to sift tho facts OF this
case and place the responsibility where
IL belongs There has evidently been a
dangerous disregard OF the quarantine
may have been unwarranted overriding
Of the city health authorities. and the
whole matter should be thoroughly In
ycstRatcd.