Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-01-09
Meningitis Rages in Country Districts and Judge Phil 4.. pot May Act.
DEATHS REPORTED
Doctors Says They Are Not Paid for
 Treating Cases and Will Not Expose Themselves.

County board of health, composed of Drs. B. H .alligher and T. w. Wood ul, of this city and R. P: Wood, of Altheimer,t Investigate cases supposed to be cerebro spinal meningitis and order some of those stricken W tn the d sease quarantined, County Judge c. M Philpot said yesterday that 'ae would appoint new board, If phy- sicians can be found who will accept.
 Two cases of meningitis were re- ported on Drew Whites plantation, about eight m les. south of the city, yesterday and Dr.. Asa Brunson the county physician, was sent by Judge Phipot to administer to them, bo,h of whom are negroes
 An epidemic of the disease has been raging around Altheimer, four teen cases having been under the care of Dr. R. P. Wood of that place, member of the Jefferson county health board. Four patients, of. the fourteen, all of whom are ne- groes, succumbed, but the rema ming ten will probably recover, according to pr. Wood, who was in Pine Bluff yesterday.
 The cases which pr. Wood has charge of are isolatel and he has talk en every precaution to prevent a spread of the epidemic. So far, he said, no whites have been stricken, and the ravages of the disease have apparently been, checked. Seven cases were found n one house oc- cupied by two negro families several miles from A.theimer. Eighteen children werea occupants of the house. Two of these patients died. The two cases on the White plan tation are theiiogly ones reported, with the exception, of those near Alt he mer, according to. several phy- sicians but they are apprehensive as weather conditions for the past two WOCkS duU pl coCII 0iS NCAuuSA'S ' V to the spread of the germ.
 Dr. T. w. Woodul, member Of 1 the Board of Health, stated yesterday that he was perfectly willing that Judge Philpot should appoint another E in his place.
 While we are not. supposed to 
 treat cases of men gitis and are not ordered to do so by Judge Philpot we i do not feel that we can take up cur time to make long drive into the 1 country to examine a patient, expose ourselves to this dread disease and then go back to, our families, with out remuneration. I told Judge Pail- pot year ago that I. would not do l'h' S and at that time xpressed my willingness to nave another appointed 1 to fill my place on the board. hardly think there are any physicians who will accept the appointment as the majority of the medical men in Pine Bluff take the same v-ew of the matter as the present members.
 The law does not provide for pay to members of the board of health for examining a patient, diagnosing the case and if of contagious char acter, ordering a quarantine. The board can, however, incur expenses which includes paying for qualan inc guards, and if the patient is destitute order medicine, etc.
 The disease is raging in many place through the south and mum Der of cities are at present unde! quarant ne law The cases around Aitheimer, according to Dr. Wood, ol that place, do not seem to be of as fatal character as those which ihave stricken mny people in other sections of this and other states.
 ] Dr. B. H. Gallagher, a member oi the Board of Health, said yesterday he, had heard of no meningitis cases as. he had been away. It is under stood, however, that he takes the same v.ew of the case as Dr. Wood ul
 pr. Brunson, the county physician returned late yesterday afternoon from a trip to the Drew White rlace south of the city. He reported three cases in that vicinity, one on The White plantation. one on the Trulock place and another on the Clemmons place. Two deadss resulted from the disease Tuesday night, both negroes. Another negro died suddenly at Cornerstone Tuesday and from the n orifiC