Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 199, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1911 — Family Near Wheatfield Refused to Obey Quarantine. [ARTICLE]

Family Near Wheatfield Refused to Obey Quarantine.

Kankakee Valley Review. Mrs. Ben Frpel, who resides on the George Marr farm, north of town, called at the office of Dr. Frye here Tuesday of last week and complained of not feeling well. Upon examination her case was diagnosed as a well developed attack of diphtheria, and the doctor advised anti-toxip treatment, which was objected to by the patient, who was accompanied by her husband. They were ordered to return home and subject themselves and family to a strict quarantine as required by the state board of health. .It is the duty of any physician or any person who has reason to know that any patient or any member of his family has any communicable disease as Übted in the rules of the state board of health to immediately report the case to the board of health, and a quarantine shall be established at once, after which it is unlawful for any persons to enter or leave the premises quarantined without permission of the health officer having jurisdiction. Any person who shall violate the law on quarantine, upon conviction, shall be fined from ten to fifty dollars, to which may be added six months' imprisonment. Dr. Fyfe, after a careful diagnosis of the Freel case, reported the matter to the county board of health, as he is required to do by law, and a report comes from neighbors that the family have been ignoring the quarantine. Mr. Freel made a visit to South Bend to attend the funeral of his brother, and Dr. Fyfe reports that Mr. Freel threatened him when be undertook to put up the quarantine notice on the premises. Dr. Wilson, of Hebron, was called and pronounced the case of the most malignant type of diphtheria. Every citizen should do his utmost to prevent the spreading of contagious diseases of all kinds at all times, and if families who have the misfortune to be stricken with diseases which are communicable, do not obey the law, the health department should enforce it Every provision for the comfort and needs of persons quarantined is provided by law, and the citizens should co-operate with the health officers in enforcing the law.

Another case of diphtheria in this township was reported by Dr. Fyfe Sunday evening, when he was called to the home of Mrs. Brooks, the new resident just north of the C. I. & S. railway. The patient was the 5-year-old son of Mrs. Brooks, who had just returned from Danville last Saturday morning. A quarantine has been established and every effort is being made to prevent the spreading of the disease. Many were exposed to this case from the fact that the threshing machine was at the Brooks place Saturday, which attracted many spectators from town.