The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-02-22
West Richmond Improvement
Association Centured DR..
Davis For So-Called Scar
let Fever Epidemic.
CHARGE THAT LAWS
ARE NOT ENFORCED
Legal Proceedings May Be
Instituted-Davis Answers
BY Saying That He Has
Followed Laws.

'Resolved-That the health officer
of the city enforce the laws and rules
of the State Board OF Health and take
specific action in the present epidemic
OF scarlet fever in the city"
The above resolution was adopted at
the meeting of the West Side Imnrove-
ment association last night at Baxter
school which was over crowded with
persons who allege that an epidemic of
scarlet fever has existed in Richmond
Tor more than year. A committee of
women from the Collegiate club, an
association of the women graduates of
Earlham college, has been Investigate
dng the cases of scarlet fever which
have been in this city for more than a
year. The committee is composed Of
MRS. Ebert Russell, Mrs. Murray
Kenworthy. Mrs. N. c. Heironimus and
Mrs. Ray Robinson, all Of the West
Side.
The women have collected data on
the epidemic and have list of most
of the scarlet fever cases on the West
Side within the past year. In al. the
cases Investigated it is alleged it was
found that the quarantine laws of the
state had been disobeyed in tho rigid
ness Of the quarantine or the length
of time which the house should have
been carded. So far in the investiga-
tion, not one case has been foand
which occurred within the past year
where the house and person infected
were quarantined according to the law.
they say.
Blame Dr.. Davis.
Those at the meeting handled City
Health officer Davis without gloves.
They stated that he does not make
proper investigation of the scarlet fe-
yer cases but takes the word Of the
attending physician that the case is
mild one and orders the card remov-
ed from the house, allowing the patti
ents to mingle with people who have
not had the disease.
The law of the state health depart
ment vas read by the women who
shovel it was necessary in ali cases
to keep the persons in quarantine for
at least 81 days whether the case lis
R-light one or a severe one. After he
card is removed the laws say that
the children shall not be allowed to
attend school for at least ten days af-
.er the quarantine Is removed, thus
making 1t compulsory for the child n
a family infected with scarlet fever to
stay away from school for 81 days af-
ter the disease is discovered. In cases
where the children were removed be-
fore they were taken with the disease,
the law compels an isolation of at least
ten days and thorough disinfection
at the beginning Of this period. When
the child is released, it is necessary
to make thorough examination for
signs of scarlet fever. After this is
done the child is allowed to go to
school.
The women stated that they have
asked DR.. Davis number of times to
make an effort to stamp out the cpl
demic, which for the past year has al
most oeen solely confined to the West
Side. They claim that no effort has
been made and that the law has not
been carried out in any case. Unless
this condition is remedied. legal pro-
ceedings may be instituted against
health officials, they said.
Principal Has List.
G. Andrew Steely. principal of the
Baxter school has kept a list of the
children of that school in whose fami-
lies there has been scarlet fever since
the beginning of the school year Sep
tember is, 1912. He has found that
scarlet fever cases have been found in
fifteen families who have children in
Baxter school since the beginning of
the school in September. In these FAM
lilies there were from one to four chill
dren.
Mr.. Steely stated that in no case
were any of the children kept out of
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