New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19
The CHILDREA'S FOE.

RAvAGEs OF SCARLET FEVER DURING THE WINTER
DECREASE II THE NUMBER OF FATAL CASES.
Of The contagious diseases which have afflicted
this city dupug the past Winter scarlet fever excited
most alarm. TIE weekly reports Of City Sanitary In
spector James made this fact strkingy apparent; small
pox tho most deadly OF all, rarely rising above 90 cases.
while scarlet fever brought low many ~ week
Most of the persons attacked children. Sanitary
measures to prevent the disease from increasing
taken by the Board Of HEALTH but for many weeks the
resistance seemed TO be in vain. The disease had
sooner been stamped out in part of the city than
appeared in another quarter and the struggle to sup
press II had to be repeated The main difficulty in the
way a complete conquest OF the disease from
the attendance school Of children in first stages
sickness Other children in this manner became infected
with the contagiOn, and the disease gradually spread
through the school. Every effort made, Of course,
by the school teachers TO keep the disease out Of their
schools but in many Instances IL not until IL had
attacked many of the children that 1T discovered
Children maniesting symptoms Of tde disease were
then forbidden 10 90 to the school aud parents were
formed that scholar would be received from house
wherein scarlet yer had attacked any City SAM
tary IusDcctOr James ordered the Health Inspectors
soon as case was reported to hasten to the patients
house. where after examining the apartment in which
he lay they were to If the ventilation good and
1t was not the patients friends requested 10
move him to a room in better sanitary condition. The
room of the sick person then thoroughly disufected
as well as all the clothing and bedding. The entire
house was also dsInfcCed, and all persons
toned against visiting the patient. There being hos
p.a set apart for tho special use Of scaIctieyer pa
tents all persons sick Of this disease were allowed to
remain in the care OF friends. The Inspectors gave 10
the friends of the sick person the following table of
directions for dealing with scarlet fever the rules being
equally applicable 10 smallpox and measlcs
CARE or PATIENTs.-The patient should be placed in
separate room, ana no person except the physician,
nurse mother, allowed TO enter the TO touch
tie bedding clothing used IN the room, until they
have IceU thoroughly dlsuf Cted.
INFECTED ARTCLES.-Ail ClO'hing, bedding, or other
articles absolutely ssary for the of the pa
tient should be removed from The sCE-rOOm Articles
used about tic patient. such as sheets, pOwcases.
blankets clothes mast not be removed from tine sick
room Unti they have been dsneced. by placing them
in tub with the following disiuiccting huld: Eight
ounces Of suphatO OF TuC one ounce OF ciIbOC acid
ana thrtc GiHohs OF ~dtef me COin shOnd De soaked
IN this fluid for at cast one hOur, and then placed IN
boiling water for washing. piece OF muslin FOOT
square, SGOuid be dipped IN the solution and
pended IN the sichrOOm constantly and similar dsn
lccug cloth should be hung up IN the hallway adjoining
The SiCk-IOOm Feather beds ana pillows, har pillows
and mattresses, and fIunclS wooden goods require
iellOu and should not be removed from the sick
room until after this has done. All straw beds
sick ROOM attcrTcmOya Of patient should he thoroughly
cleaned ana linewashed and the woodwork AMI floor
thoroughly scrubb wth soap aEd water WaerClosets
should also he dlsIuiectcd.
Although the number Of persons attacked during the
past Winter months has been very great, the disease
as usual The fact OF the decrease Of the disease may
clearly seen by comparing the number of and
deaths OF both years The following taDuated state.
mcu OF the number Of cases and deaths during the pas
two Winters: