Seattle Shut Every School for Scarlet Fever

At a special meeting of the board of health yesterday afternoon it was decided that the scarlet fever situation in the city was such that it was best to close all schools—public, private and Sunday—and to discourage all gatherings of children. The action was made contingent on the city council's passage of an ordinance enlarging the board's powers. The board also decided to appoint an inspector to enforce quarantine rules.

Health Officer Palmer reported fifty-three cases of scarlet fever in Seattle: thirty-six had occurred this month and the remainder during the last seventeen days of April. The three schools chiefly infected were the Denny, with four cases; the Pacific, with two; and the Mercer, with one, plus one pupil. Since the Smith and Rainier schools had been closed, Palmer said, there had not been a case among their pupils.

Dr. Holmes introduced resolutions, adopted unanimously, declaring that the board viewed with 'great apprehension' the spread of the disease and instructing the health officer to secure the closure of all public, private and Sunday schools, to warn parents against permitting children to mingle promiscuously, and to communicate with anyone arranging entertainments that would assemble children. Boarding schools whose pupils lived exclusively in the building were exempted.

Earlier, after a hot fight in the city council, both houses passed an ordinance giving the board of health power to close the schools when it judged the situation warranted. Dr. R. M. Miller, president of the board, and Drs. Chapman and Crichton spoke for the measure. In the house of delegates, James, Hurd and Kistler opposed it or sought delay; Chapman warned, 'You might as well kill it... and let the stigma rest on this council.' Corporation Counsel Scott said passage would remove doubt about the board's authority and warned that the board of education might otherwise seek an injunction. The ordinance passed 5 to 3.

Dr. Palmer admitted the quarantine was inefficient in part because families ignored instructions and because it was impossible to keep a household at home unless the city bore the family's expenses. The building at 2033 Eighth Street was ordered vacated as unsanitary.