Show Drastic Action Necessary of quarantine regulations holds VIOLATION V y the possibility of disaster to an entire com corn An afflicted pers person m or a carrier of a S. S contagious disease who knowingly exposes others to it it is a dangerous public enemy Whenever Whenever Whenever When When- ever any such may be discovered drastic action is not only justified but should draw comment dation Dr L. L C. C Snow epidemiologist of the city board of health earns praise for moving against individuals declared to have sp spread ead diphtheria and scarlet fever in the city Warrants Warrants Warrants War War- rants for the arrest of four have been issued complaints are arc being drawn against others carrying carrying carrying car car- scarlet fever fe into public places and police have been stationed to enforce quarantine regulations regulations regulations reg reg- at premises where lodgers disregard them Only ignorance or wilfulness may be as assigned assigned assigned as- as signed in such cases cases and and there are few perSons persons persons per per- sons so ignorant that they do not know what a quarantine flag means Wilfulness of this kind can only be described as criminal Consider Dr Snows Snow's charges that charges that in a house where 24 individuals live 16 are arc known to be carriers of diphtheria Two deaths from the disease have already occurred there and two others of the family have just been released from a hospital after recovery recovery Three dwellers in this house are charged wi with h breaking quarantine This says Dr Snow has sowed the seeds of a diphtheria diphtheria diphtheria theria epidemic because of public indifference and carelessness He uses mild terms It is a hideous thing to carry the germs of a a- disease which may be fatal to those who vho do not suspect the danger There are arc now under quarantine more cases of diphtheria than were reported for the entire 12 months of last year It is not difficult to put the blame upon those who break quarantine quarantine quarantine tine or who delay calling a a. physician until some sometime sometime sometime time after the appearance of symptoms which should be alarming but are regarded as trivial The same circumstances account for the large number of cases of scarlet fever The board of health has set a record fine for holding down epidemics in this city during the successive administrations of Drs Christ Chris- Chris t Viko and Kahn as health commis commis- i Dr Snow is giving the city outstandIng outstanding f ing service as epidemiologist All their good i work can easily be wiped out by a few individuals individuals individuals who m manifest the poorest kind of citizenship citizenship citizenship citizen citizen- ship by refusing to cooperate in an an effort of such vital consequence to th the community The thoughtful citizen should regard it his responsibility responsibility responsibility and duty to report to the police or the board of health anyone known to be disregarding disregard disregard- ing lag a quarantine Prompt arrest and adequate penalties should impress upon the heedless the I seriousness of this offense |