Rock Island County v. Rankin

In the county of Bock Island the duty of providing for the poor rests upon the county. Peter Munson was a tenant upon an island in the Mississippi river, within the boundaries of Hampton township, in said county. His family contained twelve persons, himself and wife, nine children and a son-in-law. They were taken ill with malignant diphtheria and scarlet fever, and all the family had those diseases. Dr. J. E. Bankin, a physician, was called to attend them. After he had attended them about a week, he brought their condition to the attention of the supervisor, and the latter convened the board…