The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-28
STATES NEGLECT
WAY COST LIVES.
Local Authorities Refuse to Act.
Board of Health Cannot
Do So.
Or. r. A. IRVING INVESTIGATES
----------------- = = - -
Pays Visit to Fredericksburg and
Describes Conditions in
King George.
Or, r. a. IRVING INVESTIGATES

lNilIS NINOiS 81. ai
although but five are left OF the
sixty.tlvc cases of smallpox which
have terrified King George county. no
one can say yet whether or not the
dreaded disease has been permanently
checked. No steps were taken by the
county authorities to quarantine the
infected district, and. therefore, 1t is
impossible to ascertain the number OF
people who have been exposed and
who may vet be stricken.
DR.. Paulus A. Irving president OF
tho state Board OF Health. spent yes
terday In fredericksburg in confer
enco with DIR. NJ. w. Minor. who,
though not member OF the board,
has attended most of the smallpox
cases in King George. According TO
DIR. Minors reports. about fifty-hHe OF
these cases have been mild, while the
rest have been what Is known as con-
fluent--of serious nature, leaving
marked traces of the disease on the
body. There have been no deaths.
Authorities Do Nothing.
The infected district, covering an
area of from three to four square
miles, is in the northwestern part OF
the county. bordering on the POTOMAC
River. The section lis thickly popu-
lated, and all the public schools In tho
neighborhood have been closed Tor
some weeks.
The first evidences Of the disease
were discovered in November, but ac-
cording to DIR. Minor. the county au.
thorities have taken no cognlzance of
the situation. No distinction or fumi-
~,
has any vaccinating been done except
by physicians practicing among their
private patients. AS a result Of what
has been accomplished by DR.. Minor
and one or two other physicians. about
one-half the people in the infected
district are now immune, counting. OF
course those who have had the dis
ease and those who were previously
vaccinated. The county authorities
have supplied no virus. nor have they
done anything to stop or control the
spread of the disease. On account of
the disregard with which The matter
has been treated. DR.. Irving said last
night, on his return to the city. 1t Is
impossible to estimate the number OF
exposures. SO far the cases have been
confined to shout twenty families, all
white.
DR.. Minor declared yesterday that
in his opinion the county authorities
w..l In future take no more action IN
the matter than they have taken in the
past. and therefore the determination
of the epidemic seems TO lie with the
doctors and the State Board of Health.
Can Do Little.
AS regards the diagnosis, DR.. Irving
says. there can be no question. a few
cases have been. detected In the al
Joining counties and in Fredericksburg.
In each case the source OF infection
has been traced to King George county.
Speaking of the measures which should
be taken by the State Board, DR.. Irving
made this statement:
"The State Board OF Hcnltl, has adj
vised DR.. Minor to get II meeting OF the
county authorities mud to urge upon
them the necessity OF general und
compulsory vaccination, especially in
TINT district of the county where the
smallpox has existed md among the
people who have not yet had the dis
ease. The state Board of Health Inns
authority under the law. where n coun-
ty board fails to act, to tnke charge 0f
the situation ana to direct whnt should
be done. In order to do this, however,
1t would have to appoint physicians
ana agents to put into operation and
to- enforce sits rules and regula lions,
which 1t would certainly do in this case
II it llud at it's command sufficient
funds.
"IIuving, however, I'm appropriation OF
only $4,000 annually for the entire
State, 1t lis evident that 1t II impossible
to handle the situation according to
the statutes. The entire amount of
ithis appropriation might easily lie used
I'm Kidding King George county of the
present epidemic.
:.'Tl,e appropriation In Virginia to tho
State Board of Health IN one of the
smallest, II not the smallest, of amy
|, State in the Union. In mokt of the
others the appropriation ranges from
$4,000 to 100000. Last year Penn
sylvnniu appropriated for the fight
nEuinst Tuberculosis alone $1.O0O,OOO
The present laws ARE perfectly adequate
to cope with such situations as the
one In l<inE George county II none,
could be hnd to see that they were
properly cnforccd.'
Armeninns to Wed.
| A marriage license was issued yes
| terda " tn simon TukSuztan and Nauen,