The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-19
REMARKS ON QUARANTINE.
"Layman" Thinks the Right Method Is
Not Pursued in Barre.

Editor Daily Times Dear Sir:
Why this epidemicg Why two hun.
dred or more houses posted for measles {?
Simply and solely because there is no
quarantine. The red card does not quar-
antine. With one child in the family
sick with the disease, the other children
and adults go and come all the same.
The disease is thus spread, The germs
are carried on the clothing.
The sign is all right but il is not
enough. Quarantine can be made per.
feet only by policemen.
When fire breaks out in building,
tiremen quickly surround it with streams
of water. That is quarantine. The fire
is confined to that one structure and
there extinguished. That is quarantine.
Without the iremen, a conflagration en-
sues an spreads to any extent.
Exactly so is it with any contagious
or infectious disease. Patrol the first
case or cases with a policeman. Permit
no one to come or 60 save nurse or doc
tor. This is quarantine. The disease is
thus confined to the first case or cases.
The germs being there killed, that is
the end. But without the patrolmen,
the germs are carried on the clothing
OF all persons coming and going, spread
ing the disease and creating an epidemic
to any extent.
Evidently had the first case of measles
been policed, the present epidemic would
have been unknown. Evidently, too had
the first cases of smallpox been rigidly
policed, that epidemic would have been
unknown.
How much better, how much it would
have saved the city from sickness, suf-
fering, expense! AT the outbreak OF
the disease, instant quarantine by police
is the only protection. Six policemen
then are more effective than six hun
dred when the contagion becomes cpl
demic. AT the outbreak many a family
would rather pay the expense OF police
for quarantine than to endure the in
evitable suffering for want of quarantine.
Who, then, is responsible? | answer,
ultimately the city council is response
Bile, and the city council alone. The
right of self-proteetion is inalienable.
1t is the first right of existence. Each
individual has this right. The city has
il no less. The city has the right to
protect itself against disease as really |
as it has the right to protect itself
against fire.
And the city council is the appointed
guardian of the citys rights. In sur
rendering this right to the state board !
of health, the council betrayed its sacred i
trust. Here is where the city council is
at fault. Here is fixed the responsibility.
Just see how it works: The right be-
ing waived, the state board appoints the
health officer for the city. Then the
board changes horses while crossing the
stream" This was fatal. During the
delay, the smallpox spread and got a
irmer hold
Had the state board properly instruct
ed the first horse, furnished patromen
and babe him police every case, and, at
The same time, had the city given him a
quarter the support it gave the second
horse, the disease would have been com
Dletely stamped out in less time than it
look the second horse to get fairly into
.he harness.
In fact. the second horse has never
been well harnessed. He plays fast and
oose occasionally. The city has no con-
rol over him. he pays allegiance only
o the state board. He may occasionally !
onsult the city council; but only out of
ourtesy, and he tramples on the city {
rdinsnees every day No fault OF his.
lie does his duty. Appointed by the
tate board. he obeys that body.
During the smallpox epidemic, the
ealth officer so rarely employed pa
rolman that it did little good. While
he sign Smallpox posted on the house
nay have kept away adults, children q
layed ball freely across the line, and !
ven went to the neighbors. 1t was
o quarantine. Thus the disease was
pread. {
During the present epidemic, not a t
atrolman has been used. Therefore |
osting the house is only mockery it il
oes no good. Suppose, when fire breaks t
ut, the fire chief should simply post c
he burning house with the sign Fire" P