South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-10-14

HOW SCARLET FEVER Is SPREAD In
view OF the alarming prevalence Of scarlet fever
in this country, the following article, from an
English Journal Of high reputation should bo
read by every one
The enormous mortality from scarlet fe-
yer, which appears IN the Registrar Gcner-
al ; mortality bills, is now CONSTANT aud
increasing quantity. IL is assuming pro-
portions which are alarming, not the less so
because they arc largely increased by iudi-
vldual careless ness. Ii has always been a
source of great mortality; and, 10 the alb
sencc OF any means OF checking its pro-
grcsS, such as VIC possess 10 vaccination for
small pox, and by attention to the water
supply aud drainage for cholera aud some
forms OF pythogenic fever, il becomes the
more necessary accurately to investigate
the means by which il is spread These
may be summed up chiefly ia n few words.
1t Is spread by personal carclessness, by
neglect, aud by recklcssuess Of individuals
as to the public safety.
Scarlet fever Is propogatcd from person 10
person by eulpab,e ignorance and criminal
neglect. Cleanliness aud general sanitary
regulations are Of no use 10 mitigating tho
severity of the disease, but are no bar 10 It's
propagation Let Us take the experience Of
one London physician during the last
week, and it will easily explain how scar
let fever is nov being spread lie tells Us
that be has become cognizant Of the follow
ing cases during that time Travelling by
rail, he was requested not to put down the
window, as n little boy in the carriage vas
no, very well The boy was on his way
home from school where scarlet fever had
broken out, and on examining him, the O.
ruption was yery evident
\ clergyman brought into his room a lad
not 20 consult him about the lad, but mad
vcrtently. lie was about 20 take him into
the country. This lad had just recovered
from scarlet fever, and was 10 tho desaua-
native stage OF convaicsccnce, shedding A.
bout those scales which are 50 highly in.
fictitious aud arc enough 70 poison tie whole
population. His washerwoman had scar
let fever in her family; she ascertainod
that u was conveyed by the clothing Of
scarlet fever patient, sent 70 the wash By
the friends without caution These are ali
thc acts cf the most culpablo and Danger
Gus negligence.
Scarlet fever IS enc Of the most intense
" and continuously contagious diseases 49,
From tho outset q the disease TIL the com.
pletion Of the subsequent process Of peoling
OF the skin, the patient, his clothing and
discharges, aud Tho light scale, Which ore
diBuscd 10 th5 atmosphere from his pooIing
surface skin, arc pregnant with poison
Not only should be bo carefully isolaied.
not only should bis clothing and an that
comes in contact With him be carefully AMI
thoroughly d-lutectcd. not ONLY sbogM Lis
body be anoiote5 as Dr. Bu8d haa rsoon-
mended, with oil, o. limit tho acid diffusion
o. thc opiiermal scales, bu. The utmost caro-
should be- exercised by ihe persons attend.
ing him not % become carriers Of this yir.
ulcnt and subtle poison. 10 send % ,he
iaundress garments fatal as those N D.ia-
Mira, TO expose in public carriage or
crowded waiting room tbe fertile sources Of
q deadly and volatile poison, arc terrible Of
lenses against Che public safety They ara
constantly and c'relossly committed. and 10
Is thus that sclriatina is spread.