Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-05-26
CHANGES IN QUARANTINE LAW.
Subject Defines Contagious Diseases
and Provides for the Care of Pa
tientS Infected-AlsO for
Fumigation and Dis
infection.


probably revise its rules at the July
meeting, but advises that until this
is done the local boards should con-
tinue to enforce the present rules so
far as they do not conflict with the
new law. The law is an act repeal
ing sections 2570-A-1, 2570B and
2571 of the supplement to the code,
relating to care of persons affected
with contagious diseases, the pay
ment OF quarantine expenses and the
publishing and distribution of reg
ulations of local boards of health.
1t provides that:
When any persons shall be sick or
infected with any contagious or in
fictitious disease, dangerous to the
public health, whether a resident or
otherwise, the local board of health
through the mayor or township
clerk, shall make provisions as are
best calculated to protect the inhab-
itants therefrom, and may remove
such persons to a separate house,
house of detention or hospital, but
quarantine shall not be established
or maintained or fumigation requir-
ed except in cases of scarlet fever
(including scarlet rash and scarlet
ina), smallpox, diphtheria (includ-
ing membranous Group, cholera,
cerebro-spinal meningitis and bu-
bonic plague. In case any person or
persons liable for the support of
such persons under quarantine or
restrained under and by virtue of
this act, shall be financially unable
to secure the proper care, provisions
or medical attendance, it shall be
the duty of the mayor or township
clerk to procure for such diseased
person proper care, provisions, sup
plies and medical attendance, while
so quarantined or restrained. All
bills for supplies furnished and SER
vices rendered by order of the mayor
or township clerk as herein provid-
ed, for persons removed to a sepa-
rate house, or house of detention. or
hospital, or for persons financially
unable TO provide for their susten-
ance and care, shall be allowed and
paid for, only on a basis of the local
market prices for such provisions,
services and supplies in the locality
in which such services and supplies
may have been furnished. All SER
vices and supplies furnished to indi-
vidUals or families under the provi-
sions of this section must be author
lied by the local board of health or
by the mayor or township clerk act
ing under standing regulations of
such local board, and a written or
der therefore, designating the per-
son or persons employed to furnish
such services or supplies, issued be-
10 CnfsNFI lsAe
actually furnished, shall be attach
ed to the bill when the same is pre-
sented for audit or payment No
bill for any expenses incurred for
any person during quarantine or for
disinfecting premises or effects shall
be allowed or paid except in cases
removed to a separate house, or
house of detention, unless it shall
be found that such person is financi-
ally unable to pay said bill.
Provided, that nothing contained
in this section shall be construed to
prevent any person removed to a
separate house or house of detention
or hospital herein provided, from
employing, at his own expense, the
physician or nurse of his choice, nor
from providing such supplies and
commodities as he may require. 1t
is further provided that if the per-
son receiving services or supplies be
not a legal resident of the county in
which such bills were incurred and
paid, the amount so paid shall be
certified to the board of super
visos of the county in which the
said party claims residence or owns
property and the board of supervi-
sors of such county shall reimburse
the county from which such claim is
certified in the full amount original
ly paid by it.
All fumigation and distinctions,
for the protection of the public
health shall be done in accordance
with the regulations of the state
board of health and under the direc-
lions of the local board, which shall
direct the attending physician to
superintend or perform the work.
In case there be no attending ply
stefan or in case the attending ply
stefan refuses to perform this duty,
then 1T shall be the duty of the local
board of health to provide some
other suitable person to perform
such work.
All bills and expenses incurred in
carrying out the provisions of this
section and establishing. maintain
ing and raising quarantine and fur
nishing necessary detention hospi-
tails shall be filed with the clerk of
the local board of health. This
board at its regular meeting or spe-
cial meeting called for the purpose
shall examine and audit the same
and If found correct, approve and
certify the same to the county board
OF supervisors for payment. If the
board of supervisors determine such
bills payable, under the provisions
of this act, it shall order the county
auditor to draw warrant therefore
upon the poor fund of said county.
The board of supervisors shall not be
bound by the action of the local
board of health in approving such
bill, but may increase or diminish
the same as may seem just and reas-
enable. The forcible removal of
infected persons as herein provided
shall be effected by an application
to civil magistrate in the manner
provided in section 1859 of the
code for the removal and attainment
of nuisances, who shall issue the
warrants directed in such cases, to
remove such person or persons to