The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-14
QUITE CARELESS
N GUARDING THE
SMALLPOX CASES.
Health Authorities State That
The Pest House Cannot Be
y Used Because It is Very
Unsanitary.
GUARDS NOT PLACED
At infected HOUSES
M)fnbers of Households where
Disease Exists Can Leave
Without Restriction-Cards
Only Are Used.
THERE ARE 30 CASES
ALL or THEM ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE UNDER QUARANTINE WHICH
Is ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS
THERE ARE 80 CASES
ALL or THEM ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE UNDER QUARANTINE WHICH
rs ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS
ACTION NEEDED.

Because the city pest house, de
tention hospital" as the physicians
were wont to call 1t. is in such poor
condition that patients cannot be
treated there, the entire city is sub
ject to an epidemic Of smallpox that
now is raging. DR.. Charles Bond, city
health officer, is authority for the
statement that the pest house is in an
unsanitary condition, the walls are
damp and the structure is not fit to
receive patients.
About thirty cases of smallpox. are
now in the city. The houses are sup
posed to be under quarantine. This
quarantine Is absolutely worthless. 1t
consists merely of card bearing the
word smallpox" and statement as
to the penalty for removal. The pa
tient is i'll and 1t generally is supposed
he is in bed and there is not much
danger Of him leaving the house.
Can Leave at VIII.
But the other members of the house
hold-they are supposed to be under
quarantine. They are not permitted
to 60 to work orIleave the premises.
But who Is therel to guard them? II
any member Of quarantined family
sees tit to leave the premises there
IS nothing to prevent. He need sim
ply walk away. No guards are placed
and 1t may be that 80 out of the first
100 persons he meets would not know
he is from an infected home.
Such condition is regarded as
nothing short Of dangerous. One of
the city's leading physicians and a
former office holder stated last night.
the system Of quarantine in vogue in
Richmond is absolutely ridiculous.
He says there is no sense in requfr-
ing patients to be treated at their
homes, where all members of the fam
lily may become exposed and nine
out of ten chances to contract the
disease. This physician said he was
called to attend a case and made ar
rangements for the patients removal
to the pest house. But. when he went
to determine the actual time for the
removal, he found out the pest house
is not being used and patients must
remain at home.
Former Precautions.
The pest house was placed on the
bank Of Clear Creek west Of the city
several years ago. At that time it was
fitted up for habitation. 1t was re-
paired and family was permitted to
reside there. rent free for keeping up
the premises. As soon as contagious
disease was contracted the patient
was hurried off to the hospital and
received all treatment there. When
the house was so filled with patients
that no others could be received, spec
ial precautions were taken by the
health authorities to guard against
spread Of the disease. Guards were
placed at the private homes. At night
red lanterns and bonfires served to
warn the passersby that they should
not stop. Day and night guards were
provided. BY such extreme measures
the authorities had little difficulty in
stamping out the disease
Ragged for Two Years.
Smallpox has been prevalent in
this city for about two years. There
have been but infrequent intervals
when one or more cases were not re-
ported. Under the present admins
tration the ineffective system now in
use has prevailed The guarantees
are farcial In their nature and exist
In name only. The general public
and physicians ridicule the quaran-
tines rs they now exist
T.. Bond would like to have pro-
vision made for the care Of patients
afflicted with contagious diseases eth
er at Reid Memorial hospital or in a
detention hospital built as an addition
to the main Institution. More than
q year ago. an effort was made to In
duce the city council to build such a
detention hospital. but the proposition
did not meet with favor. Council
could not see where the expense
money would come frssn and believed
the pest house. west of the city was
satisfactory and would serve the pur-
pose.
10 there now an effort on the part
OF tn health officials 10 let the pest
house. get In such deplorable condition
that new building must be provided
r-one near the Reid Memorial hospi-
taE-steam heat, electric light, mar
bic operating rooms. etc. etc.3 -,
IL