Evening star., 1946-08-18
District Drafts
Communicable
DiseaseContro|s
Revised Regulations
Supported by Strong
New Police Powers
By Harold B. Roaers

ssSsSo ~ NSSSiS
District Health Department off,
cials are preparing to enforce pro-
visions OF the new law for control
OF communicable diseases, not only
for the benefit of patients them
selves. but also for protection of the
public, especially from tuberculosis
and venereal disease.
In the past, it was admitted by
officials. too many "obstreperous OF
recalcitrant" victims of dangerous
illness had been able to defy health
authorities, break quarantine, or re-
fuse to be isolated. They were a
hazard to the public.
New and improved regulations
are to be drafted, it was indicated
last night by Vernon E. West, cor
poration counsel, and health depart
ment officials, to implement the new
law 1t was recently enacted as an
amendment to the old act of 1899
and was approved by President
Truman August 8.
The new act authorizes the Health
Department to conf1ne persons af-
fected by or believed on probable
cause" to be affected by communi-
cable disease. Also included are
carriers" of such disease, who may
not be Ill themselves, but carry in
fection
Strong Powers Granted.
The new law gives strong and
specific powers to District authori-
ties, even to the point of permit
ting police to break doors and win
dows, If necessary. to serve a war
rant from the court for arrest Of
a recalcitrant offender. Fines or
imprisonment are penalties pro-
vided for violators.
At the same time protection is Of
fered the individual in the form of
hearings by the court, which may
be in or out of the presence of the
sick. In case of dangerously COM
runicable diseases, of course, it
would be considered highly inadvis-
able to bring such a person into
the open court.
Dr. George C. Rutland. District
Health Officer told the Star last
night that he expected the new
law to act as deterrent to many
cases. which otherwise might be
defiant and obstreperous
The threat of compulsion, he
pointed out can be held over the
heads of persons who may be think
ing about a break out of ouaran-
tine or refusal to be isolated.
AS a matter of fact the health
officer predicted, I'VE may not have
to resort to this new power very
often, now that we have the strong
legal power to use it."
Entire Community Protected.
"Quite properly" DR. Rutland ex-
planned, this act will help us pro-
tect the health of the entire COM
munity. It will enable us to deal
effectively with those cases in which
We have met defiance in the past.
II feel sure We will find less dis
position on the part of patients to
be defiant, because we now have
clear-cut, legal authority to deal
summarily with such people. We
have had number of cases of per-
sons who have refused to conform
to the regulations which would be
best for them, and for protection of
the health of the public"
One woman seriously i'll with scar
let fever walked out of her home
in direct defiance of the quarantine
he said. with great danger to the
h NH cn "
tact.
Venereal disease patients, who
have been found to be infected with
communicable disease. and have
been so diagnosed at the Districts
clinic, have disappeared when Or
dered to appear at the so-called
rapid treatment" center at Gal
!inger Hospital for cure, another
Health Department official said.
Syphilis Danger Cited.
DR.. James G. Cumming, director
OF the Bureau of Preventable Dis
eases, said there was no doubt that
primary syphilis. for instance, Is
highly communicable and should
be better controlled. Under new
police powers, he predicted, en-
forcement could make great head
way in controlling the spread of
such venereal disease. Segregation
and treatment is necessary, he en-
phasized.
IF we could treat infectious cases
Of venereal diseases over a period
Of months" he asserted, "it would
be only short time thereafter that
the incidence of such contagious
infection could be reduced to
very low ebb."
In the rapid treatment center at
Gallinger Hospital for instance,
he said. the use of penicillin, ad-
ministered intravenously, had been
effective in making the patient no
longer dangerous as a potential
transmitter of the disease.
tuberculosis patients heretofore
have often been allowed to run
around and spit everywhere, care
less and Indifferent to the danger
of injecting their own families,
their children, or others with whom
they may come in contact"
Under the new law a specific pro-