Evening journal., 1908-11-18
HEALTH BOARD
ON THE LOOKOUT
Takes Action TO Prevent the
Spread Of Scarlet Fever
in the City

At a special conference Of the Board
OF Health this morning the question
of quarantine regulations was dis
cussed with reference TO the present
prevalence Of scarlet fever i'm this
city. Within the last few days irate
citizens have been calling up the
Board Of Health to make complaints
of alleged infringement of the quar-
antine rules. The complaints were par
ticularly directed TO boarding houses
where the disease is. the complainants
claiming that persons We're going IN
and out Of the houses without taking
the proper precaution.
There were other complaints besides
of alleged encroachment upon the rules
among private families II was TO con-
slider these matters and make pub
lie statement regarding the present
state of the disease that DR.. Howell
president of the Board 90 Health,
called the Board members together
this morning.
Must Observe Regulations.
At this time there are nineteen cases
of scarlet fever in the city In each
case the Board Of Health has taken
the proper precaution in establishing
quarantine and nurses and other per-
sons who have access to the rooms
of patients are expected to observe the
regulations as stipulated In the pamph-
let's that are given at each house where
the disease has been reported.
DR.. Howell explained that the mat
ter had been set before several leading
physicians of the city The consensus
of opinion was. he said, that the re-
strictions OF the Health Board were
ample TO prevent a spread OF the dis.
case. IL those having anything TO d'
with the patients comply with the
rules there was no danger
No Need For Alarm.
Though there is nothing in th'
present situation 10 be alarmed over.
said DR.. Howell, the Board Of Healtl
desires it to be understood that un
less these rules are complied with
stringent methods VIII be used. an'
upon satisfactory proof any hous
where there is a scarlet fever patient
and against which a complfint ha
been made OF infringement OF th
rules, VIII bequarantined, wage earn
ers and ALL" This statement was en-
dorsed by the members of the Board
II necessary an officer will be place.
before each house to see that the rule
are obeyed. on the other hand, tn
Board decided that persons making
complaints should be able TO substan
tiate them. The Board agreed tina
Everything would be done TO punish per
sons in a case where it could be provei
that the rules had been broken. ant
fI,.t fI,oao ,,ra1rfror aor1r,Infpfc n cbotIll
be ready to appear as witnesses.
Complaints that cannot be substan
tiated," said DR.. Howell, seem lik
an unnecessary trining with the Boar'
of Health"
Must Report Case.
The members Of the Board also discuss
ed the alleged non-reporting of scarls
fever cases by physicians. 1t was the opin
ion Of the Board that no reputable phys
clan would jeopardize his position by com
mitting such a breach of discipline as nc
to report a scarlet fever case to the Boar
of Health Immediately upon 1t. bein
learned that the patient had the diseas'
1t was decided, however. that If such
matter came TO the Boards attention an
there was sufficient proof Of it, the phs
sician would be dealt with I'm accordanc
with the severest penalty Of the law.
THE matter of obeying the rules
something that lies wholly with the fan
ily or with those in the house where IN
disease is" DR.. Howell stated There
no alarming. degree Of scarlet fever !
this city and the Board of Health has I'll
situation very well in hand"
Il was further stated that in compari
son with other cities of equal population
with wilmington it was found that thi
eitv had less cases per hundred inhab
tants than in any Of these places CON
pared.
The matter Of obeying the regulation
without any stringent methods being tax
en- by the Board TO enforce complianc
with them, is a question of honor wit
the person I'm whose house there Is
scarlet fever patient. Also, the Boar
agreed, as to the complaints. it was
question of whether or not some mistalS
was not made by the person making the
complaint and that in each case of a
legged infringement Of the rules. the CON
plainant should be able to provide som
proof Of his assertions.