The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-02-21
DAVIS SAYS THERE
ARE BUT FEW CASES
Declares He Has Made Eff
forts to Prevent Scarlet
Fever Spread.
A MEETING TONIGHT
West Richmond Improvement
Association to Discuss
This Matter.
A MEETING TONIGHT

That every effort has not been made
by the health authorities to prevent
the spread of scarlet fever was denied
by the health officials this moi ming.
DR.. T. H. Davis, city health officer to-
day replied to the communication of
Prof. Ebert Russell of Earlhara Col
lege who maintains that patrons of
Baxter school in West Richmond after
thorough investigation had learned
that the rules of the state board of
health have not been enforced.
1t is alleged by Prof. Russell! that
three weeks quarantine was not order
ed by DIR. Davis, city health officer.
although this had been requested.
Many of the patients were not quaran-
tined more than a week, he said.
Cases Are Mild.
DR.. Davis was interviewed this morn
ing and in defense of himself and the
health authorities, showed his books
to prove that there are at present only
two cases of scarlet fever west of the
river and only eight east of tho river.
According to the physician the cases
are all mild.
When asked as to the communica-
tion OF the professor. DR.. Davis said ::
IF some one else had been the object
of the attack, would have considered
the communication not altogether bad
If protection of public health was the
only motive and the publication results
in the health department becoming
less gCillible. the physicians of the city
being the best judges of their own
cases, slower in ordering patients re-
lease, and the public conscience prick.
ed to the extent that all cases or cou.
tagion are reported, the communica-
tion Will have served a very good pur-
pose"
There will be meeting Of tho mem.
bers of the West Richmond Improve.
ment association tonight in the Bax.
ter school at which the members will
discuss the presence of scarlet fever
in West Richmond, the cause and who
is to blame. Women are especially in
vited to attend the meeting. 1t Is prob
able that the society will go on record
as being opposed to certain features
WHICH tuey Uoem ODJcCllOudDte Tcid
tive to the subject to be taken up.
T. A. Mott, superintendent OF
schools, declares that the health
officer is working with the teachers
and officers of the school in every eff
fort to stamp out the threatened epi
demic of scarlet fever
At the recent meeting of the prin
cipals of the city it was reported to
Supt. Mott that the health conditions
of the schools were never in better
condition.
'Contagion reports showed that only
a few children were out of school be
cause of scarlet fever though there are
twenty to thirty cases of measles
The amount of sickness for this time
of year is exceedingly small" said
Prof. Mott
The school board is taking every
precaution TO enforce the rules of the
state board of health in regard to con
tagion. he said. All principals and
teachers have been instructed to liter
ally act upon all directions and sug
gestions made by either City Health
Oficer Davis or any of the medical
examiners. Each principal reported
that the directions of the health
officers would be carried out. -