 Quarantine in Emmons County happened often, but usually too late to save lives. By the early 1890s, Emmons County had citizens serve on the County Board of Health, and they took many steps to preserve health. Everyone knew that diptheria, measles, and scarlet fever were highly contagious. The Board of Health quarantined the Charles Locke family when one by one, their children died. In January 31, 1890 edition of the Emmons County Record there was an ad for a Diptheria cure, which consisted of applying a tincture of tar and turpentine.
They often posted warnings that a serious illness was making the rounds in various towns, like the warning of an upper respiratory illness in the Russian-German settlement, said to have been started by a recent immigrant with the ailment.
One of the leading causes of infant death then was called "summer ailment" which was just dehydration, but frequently felled frail babies.
The County Board of Health knew that bad well water often led to some of these diseases, and sometimes shut down the "town pumps" the communal water sources.
Various individuals also dealt with the Insane. In 1888, John Waldron, the Merchant's Hotel Owner, was in charge of the Emmons County mentally ill. It probably consisted of taking them to Jamestown, ND where the Asylum was located. No doubt, Waldron was picked for his previous jobs as a City Marshall in Bismarck, ND.
The County Board of Health also recommended food and groceries for the County indigent. The proceedings of the County usually listed payouts to various widows and elderly people. Sometimes it was for room and board with various families. They also paid for indigent medical treatment and transport to Bismarck hospitals.
Although quarantines existed, there was little anyone could do with highly contagious diseases in the 1800s. However, the community was organized to try their best.
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