The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-05
City of Topeka Opens War on
All Venereal Diseases.
All Cases of Both Sexes Must
Be Reported Here.
EVERY PERSON IS RECORDED
Certain Cases Must Be Placed
in Isolation in City.
Power of Examination Placed
With City Physician.

An ordinance designating venereal
diseases. regulating persons having
same and providing for suppression
thereof. was presented before the city
commissioners this morning.
The proposed ordinance is the re-
suit of the combined efforts of the
army, state board of health, and the
city officials. Captain Knowlton re-
Gently spent some time in Topeka in
vestigating conditions and comforting
establishing an ordinance of this
character
Venereal diseases are designated as
dangerous to public health and should
be stamped out. Hereafter all physi-
clans, healers, hospital attendants or
any person treating persons afflicted
with q venereal disease is to be re-
quired to report such cases to the city
health officer. All reports are to be
made on blanks obtainable from the
city health officer and each will bear
a number. The case will bear the
same number as the blanks on the
records. The blank will contain
spaces for the history of the patient.
age. sex, color, etc. and If the name
of the person is to be left off the
record. the person making the report
must assume responsibility for the
non-traHsmfssion of the disease
The person afflicted will be given a
copy of the ordinance and a book of
instructions along with the number
assigned him.
1t shall be the duty of the city
health officer to institute measures for
the protection of other people from in
fection, and to attempt to prevent the
spread of the disease. All reports are
to be confidential and inaccessible to
the general public except insofar as
publicity may affect the duties i'm
posed upon the city health officer.
For the purpose of the investigation
OF suspects the city health officer is
provided with the power of inspection.
examination, isolation and disinfection
of any such people. 1t will be a part
of his duty to use all available means
| in the routing out of suspects and de-
termining the source of infection. Al
flicted persons of this type may be
placed in isolation, and no one may
enter, except the attending physician,
nor leave the isolated area Women
physicians are to be provided for the
quested or demanded.
May Have Quarantine Here.
Provided the state Industrial farm
for women at Leavenworth may be
used for quarantine purposes. the city
health officer may use only such
places in the city for quarantine pur-
poses as will be designated by the
board of commissioners.
In lieu of quarantine a cash bond OF
900 may be given, accompanied by
a sworn statement that the applicant
is not a prostitute and that the appli-
cant will not perform any act which
might result in the infection of other
persons. Before the bond is released
| if it is not forfeited. the applicant
, must be found to be cured.
The spreading of venereal diseases
| is made a crime punisha BILE by a fine
| of from SO to $500. Any violations OF
any of the regulations of this pro-
posed ordinance is punishable by the
| same provision.
| Druggists are required to keep ;
record of all drugs sold to any persor
| for the treatment of venereal diseases
along with the name and address.
Attempted obstruction of the fulfill
ment of the duties of the city health
officer are also made criminal.