Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-15
OTTAWA CONTAGION
CASES SHOULD Be
ISOLATED SAYS NJ. D.
Or. BURROWS ADDRESSES FORT.
NIGHTLY CLUB ON VERY I'M.
PoRTANT SUBJECT POINTING
OUT NEEDS OF oouARANTINe
HOSPITAL.

In a plea for an isolation hospital
to protect Ottawa against contagious
diseases. DIR. T. w Burrows last night
addressed the members of the Fort
nightly club, pointing out The bene
fits, as well as the imperative need
of such an institution. The meeting
was held in the offices of Russell Han
son, in the Central Life building.
In his address DIR. Burrows said:
In selecting subject for your con
sideration. have been guided largely
by present circumstances and condi
tions, otherwise would have select
ed subject perhaps more directly
connected with he all.absorbing topic
of the day-0ur. part in the war-but
as efficiency. the saving of man power
and economy are among the vital
questions OF the war, feel as though
our subject comes at least within the
range of these subjects.
Il have in mind the establishment
of an isolation hospital for the cafe
of contagious diseases and the imme.
diato interest in the subject is due to
the fact that we are about completing
plans for the erection Of an entirely
new hospital adjoining the Rgburr
Memorial hospital. The new hospital
will be complete in itself--no part
OF the old building to be used for the
hospital but simply as nurses
home and for teaching. This build.
ing and ground is worth easily TWEEN
ty-fve or thirty thousand dollars. and
is certainly very much larger and
more expensive than is required for
nurses home. Why should we have
an isolation hospital--for the reason
that quarantine is wholly for the ben
eft of the community not at all fol
the benefit of the family infected. Who
bears the burden of the quarantine
at the present time? Only the family
cf the infected person-and since the,
derive no benefit whatever, but rath
er are injured thereby, why should
they be obliged to bear the whole bur
den? have in mind at the present
moment a child sick with scarlet fe
ver--they are rigidly quarantined
the adults shut off from working
other children closely confined to'tht
house containing the contagion, there
by becoming infected. which | am sure
they would not have been If permit
ted to run at large out in the fresh
air--thc bread-winner is quarantinet
and the other children infected fol
the benefit of the community at large
and not one cent spent by the com
munity. the whole expense helm
borne by the individual Now. where
does economy and efficiency enter in
to It?
First From the contagious disease
such as scarlet fever, we get large
percentage of our deafness. For year,
this deaf child is burden upon thu
community, even II the parent Is wei
to do, II certainly reduces the eiilcl
ency of the child and the adult to al
enormous degree Another, If not tn
most common sequel of scarlet feve
is kidney disease, which, as yo'
know, impairs the patient during tn
remainder of his life, be that tim
short or long-a lowered earnin
power--an added expense admnisf
ed field of usefulness what goo
would such boy be in the time o
war-soon he would drop ont and re
dlire another healthy person to car
for him for months al time. ValN
ular heart disease, another seriou
result of Infectious diseases, cau'
ine great impairment and reduce
efficiency.
Smallpox is another contagious dr.
ease which while not the terribl
plague II formerly was, still is TO
lowed by general lowering OF vita
ity--resulting in tuberculosis, whic
again Is spread to others, causing
great loss Of wealth and produciiv
rers.
We are now about to employ
trained nurse to prevent the sprea
Oh infantile paralysis. have ofte
wondered what the nurse was goin
to do to prevent its spread. 1t wou
seem to me that the very first thin
provided, place would be to- segr
rptc the sick from the well. kno
last year had to keep well chi
IN the very same room with one TIN
was sick. and did so for several week
feel that such a condition Is lit
short of criminal-it is only compa
able to supplying the city with fl
rolice force and having no Jail
pclling the policeman to SIT down
stand there and guard the Grimm
inst where he found him. You ma
an seen a policeman stationed at u
gate of some unfortunate who III
bcen infected with some contaglo
disease to see that none OF the ial
nv shall pass in or out during !,
many weeks that are required J
the period of consciousness 10 paS
n well remember taking care OF
case of scarlet fever during rath
aeyere epidemic. where the tath
was quarantined out OF his nome
oonpensation being allowed for u
extra burden and he was very po'
Lite at night he crawled III tnru