Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1914 [PAGE 721]

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Meeting of March 10, 1914.

The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois was called to meet in the Trustees* Room, at the University, in Urbana, at 10 A.M., on Tuesday, March 10, 1914. "When the board convened, the following members were present: Mr. Abbott, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Busey, Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. Hoit, Mr. Moore, Mr. Trevett, Miss Watson. President James was present.

MATTERS PRESENTED BY T H E PRESIDENT OF T H E UNIVERSITY.

On motion of Mrs. Evans, the regular order of business was set aside -and the board proceeded immediately to the consideration of the following matters presented by President James:

REPORT ON T H E S C A R L E T F E V E R SITUATION.

(1) A report from the special committee of the faculty appointed to take •charge of the scarlet fever situation: The University has been much troubled during the past six weeks by an outbreak of scarlet fever. "We handled the situation as best we could. I was •compelled to authorize expenditures for which I had no authority. I have asked Dean Clark to prepare a statement covering our method of dealing with the situation which is herewith submitted: [DEAN CLARK'S LETTER.] President E. J. James,, Natural History Building.

URBANA, I I I . , March 9, 1914. DEAR PRESIDENT JAMES : In accordance with your request I am submitting to

you this report on the scarlet fever situation here. On January 28 Mr. Paul Kimberlin, living in the Y. M. C. A., was taken to the Burnham Hospital suffering with what was supposed to be tonsilitis. He was put into the general students' ward at one o'clock in the afternoon, and a swab of his throat was taken and a bacteriological culture was made. This showed a negative reaction. His symptoms, however, developed so alarmingly that he was removed that evening to the isolation ward. A later culture distinctly showed scarlet fever. # His case developed rapidly into a malignant type, and he died on February 2. On January 29, Mr. Louis A. Abbott and Mr. G. Y. Fong, who had been in the students' ward for some time previous to Mr. Kimberlin's entrance, also developed symptoms of scarlet fever and were removed to the isolation ward, and on February 4 Mr. M. C. Merrils was taken from the general students' ward to the isolation ward. / Mr. J. L. Bollman, who had been in the general ward at the time that Mr. Kimberlin came in, was discharged on February 2 and he went to his home in Springfield, where he later developed a case of scarlet fever. On February 10 Mr. Carl Raibourne. of 104 North Romine Street, was taken to the hospital with scarlet fever. On February 14, Mr. S. F . Cater was taken from the Y. M. C. A. with the same disease, there being no indication that he had contracted the disease from Mr. Kimberlin. February 16, Mr. J. W. Wright, of 502 East John Street, was taken to the hospital. These men were all that the hospital could accommodate. Mr. Cater developed a malignant type of the fever and died on February 18. On the evening of the day of Mr. Cater's death, Mr. I. M. Cohen, from 806 South Gregory Street, Urbana, came down with the disease and was taken to the isolation ward. The ward was again full, and I knew that something would have to be done to make arrangements for taking care of other students, should there be any new cases. With this situation *in mind a conference was called in your office of the mayors and health officers of Champaign and Urbana jfco consider the general situation.' It was quite evident from the discussion which occurred at that meeting that the cities of Champaign and Urbana had no intention of assuming any responsibility for the care of the students, should any more of them fall ill. We

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