History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 50

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

USA > South Dakota > History of Dakota Territory, volume III > Part 50

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With all its prosperity, with all its exceptional wealth per capita, with all its improved and advanced conditions, there is no sound reason why the state should not at once inaugurate a system of internal improvement that within a decade would place a homestead on practically every quarter section and transform the uncultivated and uninhabited hills into fields of waving grain and grass and into happy and contented homes. What was done at Belle Fourche by the Gov- ernment can be done throughout the so-called semi-arid tract at a cost of from five to ten million dollars, every dollar of which can be made to come back to the state in the end. This plan has already been suggested, studied and recom- mended by the conservation movements now before the people for their con- sideration and education.

CHAPTER IX

HEALTH, PREVENTIVE MEASURES, PRACTITIONERS, ETC.

Under the territorial government due attention was paid to health measures, though few believed that any special effort or expense in this particular was necessary in this portion of the country where the climate was so rigorous and bracing. However, the boards of health were organized and did good work in checking epidemics and medical societies were formed for mutual protection, benefit and success. The same proceedings were continued under the state government.

The South Dakota Medical Association of Allopaths assembled at Aberdeen in 1900, and interesting papers were read by Drs. D. W. Rudgers, W. E. Moore, C. M. Keeling, F. W. Cox, J. G. Parsons, A. E. Clough, Frank C. Todd, J. L. Stewart, G. E. Martin, R. L. Murdy, E. Leithhead, C. V. Templeton and C. B. Alford. These papers covered many of the most interesting subjects that physi- cians have occasion to encounter. Succeeding each paper discussions were held, and personal experiences in the practice were detailed to the great advantage and interest of the attending physicians. The meeting terminated with a ban- quet. Among the toasts responded to were the following: "Our Guests ;" "The State Society ;" "The Clergy;" "Our City ;" "The Law;" "Education ;" "State Board of Health ;" "Till We Meet Again."

The State Dental Association met at the City Hall, Yankton, on June 4, 1890. Of the thirty members then belonging to the organization, fifteen were present on the first day and later a few others arrived. Dr. F. O. Sale, of Huron, was president at this date, and after the opening exercises he delivered his annual address which was listened to with much attention. At this session clinics were conducted at the office of Dr. W. H. H. Brown, then a practitioner at Yankton. Several important papers were read, among them being the following: "Destruc- tion of Natural Teeth," by Dr. W. H. H. Brown; "The Broken Arch," by Dr. W. H. Baker, of. St. Lawrence County ; "Mechanical Dentistry," by Dr. C. A. Maxon. Equally interesting papers were read by several others. Dr. W. H. Baker was elected the new president. At the same time the State Board of Dental Examiners assembled at Yankton and examined several candidates who desired licenses to practice this profession.

The Sioux Valley Medical Association met at Sioux Falls in June, 1900, and was the fifth annual meeting of this organization. A. F. Orr, attorney, wel- comed the physicians to the city, and Dr. J. N. Warren, of Sioux City, responded on behalf of the society. President F. W. Cran presided. Interesting papers on the following and other subjects were read: "Smallpox," "Intra-Uterine,"

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"Antiseptics in Pneumonia," "Traumatism of the Eye," "Strangulated Hernia," "Surgical Importance of Jaundice," "Chronic Suppurative," "Otitis Media," "Should Opium be Given to Young Children," "Congenital Displacement of the Liver." Present were about twenty-five physicians.

The State Medical Society was reorganized at Chamberlain in June, 1891, with a total membership of over one hundred. This was one of the most momen- tous meetings thus far held in the territory or the state by the medical profession. Doctor Ware, of Salem, was elected president and Dr. G. W. Moody, of Huron, vice president. Business of great moment was done at this session. This was not the first organization of the physicians of the state, nor was it the last. Like many other similar organizations in early times they flourished for a while and then, owing to the great expense and the loss of time taken to reach the meet- ings, the organization gradually ceased to meet and was finally abandoned. At this time the State Board of Health was active in demanding from all physicians that they produce their licenses or give up the practice.

In December, 1892, the State Board of Health, which had been created March 10, 1891, reported that as a whole, the health of the state was good. The law required them to direct their efforts to the conservation and improvement of the public health. The board was hampered in its labors, owing to the fact that in creating the board, the Legislature had made no appropriation whatever to meet its expenses. The Legislature had referred to the expenses, but had not. specifically provided for their payment. Hence the state auditor was powerless to audit the accounts, and the state treasurer did not feel authorized to pay the bills. Thus all the expenses of the board were advanced by themselves, with the expectation that they would be reimbursed therefor by the Legislature of 1893. The law provided that the board of health should make and enforce any and all needful rules and regulations for the prevention and cure, and to prevent the spread,, of any contagious, infectious or malarial diseases among persons or domestic animals; establish quarantine, and isolate any person affected with con- tagious or infectious diseases. In discharging its duty, the board in several instances had established quarantine, and had joined with the local boards of health for the prevention of diseases. The law required them to kill or remove any animal affected with contagious or infectious disease. Later this duty was assigned to the state veterinary surgeon. As the last Legislature had abolished the office of the state veterinarian, this placed an extraordinary duty on the board of health who had not been educated concerning animal diseases and were unable to diagnose such cases correctly. The board asked that the office of state veterinarian be at once re-established. At this time there had been established in nearly every organized county of the state a board of health, but they were not required to care for animal diseases. This act of placing upon the state board the care of animal diseases was a serious blunder of the Legislature.

One of the duties of the State Board of Health was to investigate and estab- lish health conditions in the various state institutions upon the call of the trus- tees or management. Thus they were called upon particularly by the board of charities and corrections to investigate conditions at the insane hospital and at the penitentiary. The remarkable fact was that the board went forward and attended to these duties and paid their own expenses. Even the county boards of health did not in all cases perform their duty and the state Vol. Ⅱ-23

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board was called upon to relieve the situation. Epidemics ran for short periods in different portions of the state. For two years ending December 1, 1892, there were reported 259 cases of diphtheria with sixty-seven deaths. In some localities hygienic influences were reported bad. The board learned that wherever artesian water had been used almost exclusively for cooking and pot- able purposes, disease had secured the least foothold and was the easiest con- trolled. The conclusion was that the surface water was often impure. Impure air in tightly closed houses was regarded as one of the causes of ill health. The number afflicted with scarlet fever during two years was 166 with only four deaths, showing that this affliction was generally mild, whereas the large per- centage of deaths from diphtheria showed that the attacks were malignant. Scarlet fever had been prevalent among all classes. Not a single case of small- pox had appeared in the state for two years. Lung diseases, owing to the dry- ness of the atmosphere, did not give much trouble. Influenza had short runs in some localities. Bronchitis and tuberculosis (except among the Indians) were almost unknown in this state. The board asked for considerable legisla- tion that was necessary to surround them with the proper conditions for fully carrying into effect their responsible duties. They asked that records of birth, marriage and mortality be kept; that the office of the state veterinarian be re- created ; that the members of the state board of health be made official inspectors of public institutions ; that the board be empowered to revoke licenses of prac- titioners who had secured such through fraudulent diploma or who were guilty of unprofessional conduct ; that the attorney-general be made ex-officio member of the state board, and that a sufficient appropriation for the payment of the expenses necessarily incurred by the members in the performance of their duties be made. At this time W. C. Fowler, M. D., was superintendent of the state board.

On May 24, 1893, the South Dakota Eclectic Medical Society had its second annual meeting at Yankton, on which occasion there was a large comparative attendance. Dr. W. H. Coney was president and delivered his annual address. Succeeding this event Dr. James Buchanan addressed the physicians on the sub- ject of Nervous Debility. Doctor Owens, of Lesterville, read a paper on the Eye and Ear; Professor Birtch read an article on the "Optician" and then delivered an able lecture on the "Care of the Eye." F. E. J. Warrick read a strong paper on Medical Jurisprudence. At this meeting delegates to the World's Fair Medical Congress were chosen.

In 1894 the State Board of Health made a number of sweeping recommenda- tions. They pointed out the weakness of the existing law concerning a record of epidemics and other diseases. They announced that the state had a low death rate from scarlet fever, typhoid fever, measles, pneumonia and consumption. Although diphtheria had raged for short periods within the state, the death rate was very low. Out of 284 cases reported there were forty-two deaths, a remarkably low rate for that dread disease. Scarlet fever had been prevalent in numerous localities; there had been 230 cases of which forty-one resulted in death. Several entire health districts had been quarantined because of the presence and unusual fatality of diphtheria. The vigilance of the local boards of health was commended warmly and earnestly by the state board. In Min- nehaha County, particularly, a severe outbreak was conquered and crushed by

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THE NEW HOSPITAL, DELL RAPIDS

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the board. At this time smallpox was totally unknown in South Dakota. Neither liad consumption any hold here at this date. Influenza and phthisis were prevalent here, and from a general standpoint were easily controlled. The board of health reported that the state as a whole was eminently fitted for the conservation of health, owing to the dry, pure air charged with ozone and the absence of dampness except in a few restricted sections. The drinking water of the state was excellent as a whole. Artesian water, they said, from a sanitary point of view could not be surpassed for domestic purposes.

During the past two years ending with the close of 1894, 115 physicians had been licensed to practice in this state. During the year 1894 the board inspected the Insane Hospital at Yankton. They were surprised to find how scrupulously clean were the entire premises. They made a number of important recom- mendations concerning disinfection and other sanitary measures. They likewise inspected the condition of the Soldiers' Home at Hot Springs. They noted that there was present not the scrupulous cleanliness noticeable in most of the other state institutions. Owing particularly to the advanced age and feeble state of health of the inmates, they recommended that the cleanliness be improved at the home. They spoke in the highest terms of the sanitary condition of the State Penitentiary. They said that the action of the last Legislature in pro- viding for the appointment of a state veterinarian had proved to be a wise measure as he had been called upon to diagnose several cases of supposed glanders and in almost every case had found that disease to exist. They recom- mended that the state veterinarian be separated entirely from the State Board of Health and that his duties be performed independently. They believed also that a special state veterinarian should be appointed for the western portion of the state. The reports from the county boards of health to the state board showed many variations and the presence of many diseases for short periods of time. As a whole, however, the condition of health throughout the state was excellent.

In the early 'gos the Hot Springs of the Black Hills attracted the atten- tion of the medical fraternity throughout the country. Many patients came here for treatment under the advice of physicians residing in all parts of the United States. In May, 1894, a large excursion of Chicago physicians came here and remained several days investigating the health surroundings and partaking of the hot and mineral water. This was only one of many similar excursions that came here for health and recreation from all parts of the country as the years passed.

In 1895 scarlet fever was epidemic in several parts of the state, particularly was it bad in the public schools of several cities where it was found necessary to dismiss the pupils for a week or two and to enforce quarantine to check the disease. Typhoid fever was epidemic at Sioux Falls, Yankton and several places in the Black Hills about the same time.

In 1897 when the Legislature passed the first osteopath bill in the state, it was vetoed by Governor Lee upon the ground that it might open a wide field for quackery in South Dakota.

The State Dentists Association met at Vermillion in June, 1897. There was a large attendance comparatively and important business was transacted. The business session was held under difficulties, owing to the fact that the records

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of the society had been totally destroyed by fire at Milbank the previous Febru- ary. Copies of the constitution were saved and this served as a basis for reor- ganization. The society passed a resolution asking for legislation that would permit the prosecution before justices of the peace of any persons engaged in illegal dental practice thus avoiding the work of grand juries in such cases. Much of the time was spent in examining a large class of applicants for licenses. The State Board of Examiners were Drs. L. F. Straight, W. O. Robinson and F. W. Bromley. There were seven applicants for admission. The officers for the ensuing year were F. N. Palmer, president; H. H. Whitaker, vice president ; H. E. Blundt, secretary and treasurer. It was decided that the next place of meeting should be Madison. Several important papers were read at this session. E. V. March read an essay on "Extraction;" Doctor Davies read another on "Anaesthetics," and Doctor Wooten read one on "How to Increase the Attend- ance at the Society Meetings." As a whole it was an interesting, instructive and important meeting of the society. Among those present were the following : H. H. Whitaker, Aberdeen; J. H. Hall, DeSmet; L. E. Straight and wife, DeSmet ; H. J. Davies, Woonsocket ; F. N. Palmer, Madison; W. O. Robinson, Parker; E. V. Marsh, Alexandria; H. M. Harlan, Elk Point; H. H. Dickinson, Lead City; F. W. Bromley, Sioux Falls; A. E. Jennings, Canton; Miss Leona Dix, Mitchell; D. E. Dundis, Mitchell; Doctor Drake and wife, Plankinton; H. E. Blundt, Yankton; C. W. Stutenroth, Watertown; W. S. Phame, Minne- apolis; Charles Blundt, Yankton.

At the fifth annual meeting of the Homeopathic Medical Society of South Dakota, held at Mitchell in July, 1897, many prominent physicians from all parts of the state were present. The State Board of Health was represented at this meeting and so were local boards from districts and counties in different parts of the state. Many interesting papers were read and important subjects were discussed. The physicians were royally treated by the citizens of Mitchell.

In about 1895, the Black Hills Druggist Association was organized for the betterment of the drug trade. They met annually at different cities in that part of the state. In 1898 W. R. Dickinson was president ; Julius Deetken, vice- president; Nathan Franklin, secretary, and William Faust, treasurer. The next year the association met at Lead.

The Pure Food Law of the state was passed by the Legislature early in 1899 and went into effect July Ist of the same year. However, as no inspectors were provided by the law, it became practically a dead-letter and so remained until the next Legislature corrected this defect. At the same session the Legislature passed a law granting osteopaths the right to practice their profession in this state and to organize for mutual benefit. In September, 1899, Judge Campbell of the Fifth Circuit rendered a decision in favor of the osteopaths in a man- damus suit against the State Board of Health. The state board had refused to issue certificates to the osteopaths regardless of the law which went into effect July Ist and permitted them to practice their profession. The court directed the board to issue the certificates.

In December, 1899, F. H. Files was president of the State Board of Health and A. E. Clough, secretary. Under the law the board was required to enforce compulsory vaccination where necessary. In December they were called sud- denly to Sioux Falls where smallpox had broken out and threatened to spread

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over the city. The board had previously met in November and under a recent law had adopted rules to enforce vaccination in order to restrict and prevent the spread of this dread disease. All persons over one year of age who had not been vaccinated, particularly school children, were ordered under the rule. Local boards of health in all parts of the state and all health officers were required to enforce these rules if it appeared necessary upon the appearance of this disease. The health board also carried out still more stringent and defi- nite rules concerning the control of diphtheria, measles, mumps, scarlet fever, whooping cough and smallpox. In time of smallpox epidemic all children were thus excluded from the schools unless they could produce a doctor's certificate showing that they had been vaccinated. These and other rules occasioned much complaint from school patrons and others who were subjcet to its restrictions, but ail realized the correctness of the course being taken. School patrons were required to report under penalty any such disease to the mayor or town clerk in order that immediate steps to prevent its spread could be taken. In more than one school in the state, when smallpox appeared, all children who attended were required to line up and be vaccinated unless they had previously gone through the same experience. The state board did not furnish the virus; it was procured by the local boards.

In 1901 the State Medical Society met at Huron and discussed particularly the means to prevent smallpox. They passed resolutions deciding that every town and village should have a board of health, a detention hospital and a pestliouse.

In 1901 the Quadri-State Homeopath Society, consisting of members from Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and South Dakota, assembled at Sioux Falls with Dr. J. S. Hanchett in the chair. This was an important meeting, there being a large attendance, and many interesting papers were read and professional dis- cussions were conducted.

In July, 1902, the State Dental Association met at Watertown with W. J. Davis in the chair. The society had been organized for fifteen years, but had not maintained a steady organization nor held regular meetings. In 1902 the officers of the South Dakota Medical Association were as follows : J. O. Duguld, president ; B. B. Robb and C. B. Mallery, vice presidents ; and J. L. Stewart, . secretary-treasurer.

During the biennial period of 1901-2 diphtheria was slightly less prevalent than it had been during the previous two years. Although this disease was widespread, yet the cases were scattered and the authorities had little difficulty in controlling it. Good results in confining the disease to the original point of infection had followed the efforts of the superintendents.

Typhoid fever had secured very little foothold in South Dakota. In a few instances it was found epidemic and those cases were traced mainly to sources from outside the state. The general health and sanitary conditions were such as to preclude infection and the spread of typhoid fever. In a few cases in the Black Hills where the population was congested in gulches and mining camps and where the best sanitary conditions could not be secured, the conditions were worse, but even there the disease was easily controlled.

Scarlet fever, whooping cough, measles and chicken pox were found here and there but were easily controlled. The mortality was light. There were no

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deaths reported during the year from either whooping cough or measles and only a few from scarlet fever. There was much confusion as to whether per- sons had chicken pox or smallpox, and it often required skillful physicians to determine the difference between severe cases of chicken pox and mild cases of smallpox.

Tuberculosis was found somewhat scattered throughout the state, but in most cases had been brought here from outside. The general sanitary condition of the state together with its bracing climate, tended to check its development here among the white population. However, the Indians suffered fearfully from the white plague. Many people came here for relief from tuberculosis troubles. As a whole few deaths had resulted from contagious diseases, however the author- ities were ready for any emergency.

The state board at this time recommended a number of important changes in the laws regarding health. One was to give the health officers of the state enough funds to properly execute the duties required of them. The state board really existed on a pittance which was wholly inadequate to properly sustain the office. They asked that the superintendent of the state board be given a fixed salary and that his duties be specified and he be employed the year around. They asked also that all moneys received by the superintendent be turned over by him to the treasurer of the state, to be placed in a general fund for the execution of the provisions of the health law. There should be a general health fund to be drawn upon only in emergencies or to meet unusual demands. Epidemics came unexpectedly and had to be met promptly within a few days' time or they would spread over the whole state, resulting in a great loss of life.

The health board urged emphatically at this time the importance of pre- vention instead of waiting until the disease should get a foothold. Particularly they asked that quarantine measures be carried into effect immediately when- ever necessary. They also asked that people of the state be required to obey the instructions concerning vaccination, because thus far smallpox had proved one of the most vexatious and fatal epidemics to the state. The board pointed out that no matter how strong the law might be or how plain the duties of the offi- cials might be made, nothing of consequence would result unless proper funds were on hand to pay expenses. Smallpox during the year had begun at the Sis- seton Reservation in Roberts County. Dr. H. E. McNutt, of Aberdeen, one of the members of the state board, went to the infected district, visited all persons suspected of having the disease, quarantined 175 cases and vaccinated or caused to be vaccinated 2,000 people and was in that territory for several weeks. He succeeded with the help of others in controlling the disease in the short period of two months. For this extraordinary service he received no compensation, as there were no available funds for such an emergency. The state board observed that physicians generally were too much looked upon as benefactors of mankind and the value of their services was too often minimized. The state board asked further that additional measures to enforce the pure food laws be taken. Par- ticularly they asked that chemical preservatives detrimental to the health of the people should be removed from all food products, notably in the case of canned vegetables. They asked further for improved methods of preserving vital statis- tics-births and deaths and their registration; all of these not only as a mat- ter of health, but for convenience in the settlement of estates.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 50

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146