Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1916-10-26

Again the lack of pest house or
county detention hospital for CON
tneous diseases has been pushed to
the front. George Henderson, n young
man staying at the Turner hotel, last
week contracted diphtheria. Mr..
Turner called first upon the attending
physician, Mr.. Hogue, who sent him
t" II. {. Lynn, president of the board
Of health. Mr.. Lynn called in Mr.
Briggle, n member of the board, and
then promptly made himself scarce
Mr.. Briggle attempted to trail the
president of his board, unsuccessfully
He went to the states attorneys Office
The states attorney was not present,
but the gentleman who is generally
conceded to be the states attorneys
brnin-power, Mr.. G. w. Lynn, was
there. MIR. Briggle discussed the case
with him, and they concluded that the
only possible available place was the
room on the second floor of the court
house commonly known as the sheriff s
Office. Action was taken accordingly,
and "A nurse and care-taker put there
with him
While the patient wasn't forced to
abide in q tent AS did Mike Meier and
Elmer Grotting when the states attor-
ney handled their smallpox cases, yet
of course the housing of diphtheria
patient in the court house could not
fai! to start commotion among those
employed in the building. Monday the
courthouse was deserted. Finally, the
patient was moved to the Briggle
home and Mrs Briggle moved down
stands.
The Record does not believe in foist-
ing these cases on the public, as was
done when Stella Smith Johnson's
building was used, nor does it believe
that patients forcibly detained should
have their lives endangered as in the
case of Meier and Grotting The coun-
ty building is not the place, either, for
such cases. 1t certainly seems that it
is time that this county provided a
place for such cases. The commotion
and expense attendant on the first
case housed in the Mrs. johnson build
ing should have been sufficient to start
things moving. But still the usual
condition prevails. The Record under
stands that Hcinie Hanson recently
had the diphtheria and that there was
practically no isolation in his case
1t also understands that the party TAX
ing care of Mr.. Henderson is to be
found on the streets, at the restau-
rants, etc, thus endangering the com
munity.
At first, there seemed to be a dis
position on the part of some to try to
make political medicine against Mr.
Hrigglc in the Henderson case. One
report had it that Mr.. Turner was
willing to keep the patient in the no.
tel and that Brigglc ofiiciously took
charge of the case. To ascertain the
facts, the Record interviewed Mr.. Tur.
ner and found that he strenuously de.
MES all such reports. He states that
he first tried to get some action out
of the states attorney, who vamoosed
and that Mr.. Briggle was the only one
who showed any disposition whatever
to ito anything to take care of the case
In other words, Lynn called in Briggle
and then ducked, himself.
1t is certainly shame that some
thing cannot be done to stop these
mix-ups over cases of contagious dis.
eases. Last year, when the smallpox
case was housed right in the heart OF
town and adjacent to one of its bust
est corners it was residents and bus.
mess men of that neighborhood that
let up howl while those living OF
employed some distance away had lit.
tie to say. This time the courthouse
folks were up against it, and their wal
was even louder than ours before. But
they are justified in their complaint
Likewise, the others in the first case.
When tent was used for q pest
house. the patients themselves had q
/. kick coming. When Mrs. Johnson's
building was used without her knowl.
ssige and when later she waited
s1aoilths 10 secure pay for the use Of