The Caucasian., 1912-01-14
QUARANTINE INADVISABLE

az pOlhlS as may 0GNclOp eases [
rercbrO-spinal lneningitis.'
The words quoted are embrace
in the resolution Of the City C0unc
ordering this quarantine.
In attendance at the meeting a
which the resolution was adOpte
were his honor, J. Il. Eastman, May
or, and Commissioners Atkins, Full
.filove, Mccullough and Rives.
This quarantine was declared t
be effective Friday and proceede;
from the opposition of majorit,
of the Shreveport Board of Health
and the advice of DR.. Bowling, pres
ldent Of the State Board of Health
against the quarantine.
This quarantine was made an IS.
sue at session Of the citizens helC
at the headquarters of the Chamber
of Commerce. where the majority
present, with the mayor and COM
missi0ners in attendance, per sistec
IN their urging of the quarantine.
At special session Of the Shreve-
port Board Of Health. DR.. A. S. Rel
sor ST., DR.. J. T. OLeary and Dr. L.
Abramson opposed the proposed
quarantine, while Michael Bernstein
and E. H. Vordenbaumen favored it.
1t has been intimated that the
three physicians of the board, as the
Apprentices f Governor Sanders, are
antagonistic to the two laymen,
who derive their appointment from
The Mayor, which is being construed
as an unnecessary injection of poll
tics in matter which concerns all
the people, irrespective of their
views and predictions in politics.
In this issue of quarantine there
mas been precipitated a complication
exceedingly regrettable which has
led to the resignation of DR.. J. f.
OLeary and DIR. Louis Abramson.
The position of Drs. O'Leary and
Abramson is that since the City
Council has superseded the func-
Iions of the Board Of Health, the on
iy alternative left them was to ten
der their resignation TO the Gov
ernor
1t may be said that DIR. A. S. Rel
sor Sr.. president of the board, has
withheld his resignation on the adj
vice and earnest requests of his as
sociates and of his friends
In the resignation Of DIR. O'Leary
the city sustains the loss of the SER
vices Of a physician of experience
who has been active and loyal in the
fuifilment Of his duties as one of the
Board OF Health in epidemies OF
smallpox. yellow fever and other
contagious diseases. Dr. Abramson
has also been a most valuable asso-
ciate of the Board of Health and is
recognized as a physician eminently
qualified in his profession, and when
these two, with DIR. a. S. Reisor Sr,I
and DR.. Oscar Downing, president of
the State Board of Health, advised
against the quarantine, their conclu-
sions should have been duly consid-
cred, and not discredited by citizens
who on being alarmed would seek
safeguards in a system Of quarantine
which can not be made effective.
The assertion is here ventured that
many if not the majority Of the pro-
fession would. If necessary, concur
IN the views Of DR.. Bowling and the
physicians Of the Board of Health.
OF recent years 1t has been de-
monstrated that quarantine, uniessI
rigidly enforced, offers little il anyi
Safeguard against epidemics, but theI
best deterrent is in sanitation and
in the encouragement Of that con-
tfdence which tends to The strength
eRing Of the public mind from ap-l
prehensinn and fear.
Seriously, now that the City Goun-I
ell has ordered a quarantine againstI
Dallas. Waco and other points IN
Texas, is Shreveport safe when
eases Of meningitis are prevalent in
New Orleans. against which there is
no quarantine?
There is one ease of meningitis in
The Charity Hospital From whence
its origin?
A second case is reported from 828i
Williamson street. the victim heingI
4 negro aged is years, who has not
been away from Shreveport in six
wears.
Quarantine at best is not respon-
slve TO the enlightened progress of
the age. It is a relic Of barbarisml
and offers security in fancy only.
Seriously, if we can place no re-
lance in such men as Drs. 0'Leary,
Abramson and Bowling, and other
physicians Of experience, in WhomI
can we place confidence?
And again seriously IF quarantineI
IS to be declared by local authority