Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
ONTARIO
INFLUENZA
The Provincial Board of Health deems it advisable that the statement issuedby the American Public Health Association, following the recent meeting inChicago should be in the hands of the medical profession of Ontario. Consequentlythis statement is herein given in full.
As there is considerable difference of opinion among health officers, the professionand the public, with reference to the value of measures of prevention, suchas the placarding and quarantine of premises where the disease exists, the Boardhas deemed it of sufficient importance to add some remarks giving the views ofprovincial and state officers of health in this respect as well as upon other pointsof interest.
With the view of learning the experience of the state and provincial healthofficers of the United States and Canada the Board addressed the following inquiryto all such officers, viz.:—“Does your province (or state) require the reporting,placarding and quarantine of influenza, and, if so, do you considerplacarding and quarantine of such, practicable?”
Replies were received from the health officers of the nine Canadian provincesand from 43 state health officers. Four of the provinces of Canada reported thatplacarding and quarantine of influenza was impracticable. One states that“modified quarantine was working fairly well,” another said that “the law wasnot well obeyed,” a third stated “almost impossible in rural places,” and a fourth“many infractions but believe good effect,” a single officer only declared itpracticable.
Of the reports from United States’ health officers, 29 out of the 43 or 67per cent. state that placarding and quarantine in influenza are impracticable. Ofthe remainder of the replies nine report the law practicable, and five qualify theirstatement by such expressions as “seems to be of value,” “enforcement depends onlocal sentiment,” “law fairly obeyed,” “beneficial,” “believe quarantine should beincluded.”
Thus it will be seen that out of 52 health officers of the states and provincesof North America, 9 frankly state, as the result of their experience, that placardingand quarantine are practicable, 10 qualify their approval, and 33 franklystate that these measures are impracticable.
The real facts, considering the views of the American Public Health Associationas well as of the public health authorities of the two countries, seem to be, asSir Arthur Newsholme, Chief Medical Officer of the Local Government Board ofEngland, says, “I know of no public health measures which can resist the progressof pandemic influenza.” And, as remarked by D