The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-19
DOCTORS REPORT
MANY DISEASES NOW

More attention will be paid to the
reporting of contagious diseases in
the state of West Virginia after to-
morrow when the newly constructed
state health department regulations
are effective or else some one will
land behind the bars. The state has
been very lax in this regard and has
permitted physicians to withhold in
formation that has worked detrimen.
tally against the public health.
Under the new law a physician will
be furnished with postal cards on
which he records the contagious dis
ease and II the case is within the cor
porate limits of Fairmont he will mail
1t to DR.. H. L. Criss, city health Off
Ger. In case it Is in the county it will
be sent to DR.. l.. N. Yost, county
health officer. Violations of the law
are subject to prosecution brought by
the prosecuting attorney. Cards must
be sent Immediately.
All persons practicing midwifery
are compelled by the new law to pro-
cure silver nitrate solution to wash
out the eyes Of babes as precaution
against certain infections. This solu-
ton may be obtained free at the State
Hygienic Laboratories, Charleston.
Every physician is supposed to be
registered in Marion county although
number have not already done so.
Non-licensed practitioners subject
themselves to prosecution after June
!.
Carl F. Raver, collaborating cpl
demiologist, issues the following cir
cular letter on the new legislation reg
ulating the public health:
THE reporting of preventable dis.
eases to the proper authorities in the
state Of West Virginia is not what it
should be. The last legislature amend
ed the law in regard to such reporting,
and 1t reads at present as follows:
ut shall be the duty OF every prac-
ticing physician to report to the NUM-
cipal health officer, where there is
such an official, imediately on dag.
nosis, every case OF contagious or in.
festious disease that may arise or
come under his treatment within the
municipality, and to the county health
officer cases occurring outside the mu-
nicipality. The health officers receiv.
ing such reports shall make to tho
State Health department weekly re-
port OF all such cases. stating the
number of each kind Of disease report
ed, the action taken to arrest the In
lection, and the result" ANY
failure to comply with, any provisions
OF this section shall be considered a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof the offender be fined not mora
than one hundred dollars"
The reportable diseases are listed
below, the more frequent diseases be.
ing indicated by capitalization: An.
thrax. Asiatic Cholera, CHICKENPoX,
DIPHTHERIA, Chambers, Hookworm
Disease, Hyprophobia, INFLUENZA,
Leprosy, MEASLES, Measles, Ger
man; MENINGITIS, Ger. Spi.: Pella-
era, Poliomyelitis, SCARLET FEVER,
SMALLPOX, Trachoma, TUBERCU-
LosTS. TYPHOID. Typhus fever,
v. D.: Chanchroid, GoNoRRHEA
SYPHILIS; WHooPTNG COUGH, Vel
low Fever.
From now on, we shall expect
prompt reports from everybody. The
U. s. government by special arrange
ment with the Health department, has
arranged to allow US the use of frank.
ed POSTAL cards. and these require no
postage. am enclosing supply Of
these cards for your use.
The chief reason that reports fail
10 be made, Is that the doctor puts It
or" He plans to do It later. The new
plan is to carry some of these postal
cards in your pocket or grip and make
out the card in the presence OF the pa
tient. Mail It az soon as you see a
mailing hnzanz AoatnftinA