The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-05-10
CHILDREN i'll IN SCHOOL
Commissioner Wright Makes Appeal to
People of the City to Aid in Stamp
ing Out the Epidemic by Showing
Little Intelligence in Reporting.

a German invasion is on in KenOsha.
There is no bombarding along the lake
shore, but just the same the Germans
have taken more than three hundred of
the residents Of the city 1t is an in
vasion Of German measles and there is
no effort to disguise the fact that the
epidemic is causing considerable con
Germ to the members of the Health
Department. IN regard to the pre-
valence Of the disease DR.. Wright, com
missioner of public health gave out the
following statement this morning:
Notwithstanding the fact that we
suffered an epidemic of nearly one
thousand cases of measles during 1916,
and felt that we might rest easy for a
few years, at least SO far as this dis
ease was concerned, we have recorded
up to date, three hundred and forty
seven cases, most of which have been
of the German brand, but have been
treated by the Health Department the
same as any other case of measles.
There has been much confusion over
the situation and many complaints from
anxious mothers in regard to the great
loss of time. We fully appreciate their
stand and sympathize with them in
their efforts to keep their children in
school as much of the time as is pos
sible, but there is another side to this
as well as most questions, and it is a
very serious one, in fact the most seri-
Gus phase of the entire question: name
ly the life and death side, and it is
the specific duty Of the Health Depart
ment to diligently strive to protect
health and life, especially of the child
who is not capable of protecting him
self, and who in some instances, has but
little, if any other assistance along that
line, and it is a sad commentary that
some people (groWn in stature) are not
convinced that disease. is dangerous,
until some helpless innocent child pays
the price with its life and in many
epidemics it has required the loss of
several lives to convince a certain ele-
ment of citizenship of the real danger
and then it is the old, old story, Of
Delug eNeI1dSlIHSIy lOO ldC0 W NC VI
any benefit to these victims
The Health Department cor its work
ers, get at least some cooperation in
stead of antagonism and criticism af-
ter this sacrifice has been made, and
we may truthfully say here and now,
that if all the people acted as some do,
we would not have been in this work
anything like half as long as we have.
We would feel quite silly to attempt to
explain to those of our citizens who
greet us and our efforts in high
minded, intelligent manner, and with a
law abiding spirit, just how they en-
courage MS and how they really make
us feel, AMI how they help to make up
for some of our unpleasant former ex-
perience maybe that same day,
and in some instances only few
minutes before.
TT is almost staggering at times to
note the difference in human beings
The stand we have taken and the
course pursued has been an impartial
one, absolutely in behalf Of the child
rem, and any time we are convinced
that less severe course would be a rea-
sonab1v safe one, we shall not hesitate
( TO recommend its adoption by the educa-
! tors and the Board of Health, y