The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-22
sCAnLRr REYER avn DlPRTaERIA,
Their Prevalence In our MIdst-FataIIty
-IpdneIpE Causes for Their Presence,


f Inducing Causes for Their Presence,
A reporter Of the INTELLIaEScER has
within the last day or two interviewed a
number of physicians Of this city inregard
to the presence of those dread diseases,
scarlet fever and diphtheria, and
also as to what cause their presence at
this, or at any other time.
During the past summer, indeed for the
last two or three years, there has been q
large number Of cases OF diphtheria, also
OF typhoid fever, and within two or three
months quite o number OF cases OF scarlet
fever, some Of these last being very nave
lignant, and in q few instances there has
been fatal results. It will be seen after
pefusal OF our interviews that there is no
one OF these diseases an epidemic just
now, and that the citizens Of Wheeling
are to be congratulated upon the health
ful condition OF the city and Its present
good sanitary!status.
DIR. TOM o. EDWARDS,
Health Officer Of the city, gives us the fol.
lowing interesting account Of the condition
Of affairs: From September 10 to Novem.
Dor 20 there have been twenty.three deaths
from diphtheria and scarlet fever in this
city, divided among the wards as follows:
First ward /, Second ward l, Fourth ward
2, Fifth ward 5, Sixth ward 5, Seventh
ward 8, Eighth ward 0. OF this number
twenty have been from diphtheria, and all
under seven years Of age.
Diphtheria is contagious and an iniec-
tious disease; by the first | mean that 1t is
propagated by direct contact, and by the
latter thati is spread or conveyed by some
hidden influence, unknown difusible
power. Thus, person may contract diph:
iberia by coming in contact with 1t, and
they in turn may inject or faint person,
article or locality, 80 that others may
get it.
This principle is equally true OF scarlet
fever with this addition-that the latter Is
more powerful both in contagion and in
lection than the former, and it is main.
tanned by some authorities that contagion
is the only known cause Of scarlet fever,
while diphtheria may possibly occur. with
out an antecedent case, that Is caused in
dependent of both this contagious and in
fictitious principle from causes intimately
connected with unsanitary surroundings.
If public opinion in this city were To
| be educated up to the point Of giving to
the heslth authorities the Bame sanitary
control Of scarlet feversnd diphtheria that
it does OF the less dangerous to life disease
Of smallpox, the physicians would have
both the former under the same control as
they now have the latter.
Failing in this, there are some duties
that every one owes to themselves, their
families and the community.
First, l would earnestly advise that the
funeral Of every one dying with scarlet
fever or diphtheria, should be as speedy
and private as possible. No persons should
attend who have children OF their own, or
who would DO at all likely to come in con-
tact with other peoples children.
This may seem heartless, and doubtless
it is, but t is less cruel than to to be the
means OF conveying to another grave
disease, (often in its results more terrible
than death itself. or Of being the cause Of
the death OF your own or friends child.
This danger does exist beyond all con.
troversy, and the sooner this community
recognizes its full force and bearing the
better.
All children sick with either Of these
diseases, should be kept from contact
with other children, and as few adults as
possible. Remember that ii you visit ono
Of these sick children you are liable to
carry the infection to another.
No child should be permitted to attend
school or any public assembly, until, in
the Judgment OF q competent physician,
they can do 80 without danger to others,
in cases where 1t or some member OF the
family has been, or is Ill with scarlet fever
or diphtheria.
All articles used about or coming in con.
tact with persons sick with either OF these
diseasesshould be destroyed or thoroughly
diBinieoted.
Filth, all forms Of uncleanliness, and
neglect OF ventilation increase the danger
OF spreading these diseases.
DR.. JOHN rRIssELL
said there was some little scarlet fever and
some diphtheria distributed around in the
various wards in the city, he had also
knowledge Of a few cases outside Of the
city. There could not be what is termed
ON epidemic Of any disease just now; the
general health Of the city has been good
Tor some time and is good now; he did not
pretend 10 account for the presence OF
diphtheria in any locality; it was q poison
GUS disease and there might be divers in.
duCing causes.
Some physicians and others who make
study OF the disease, attribute its pre-.
valenCe to bad drainage, bad sewerage,
filthy surroundings &C., but in his exper-
ienCe he had seen numerous Oases where
all the iayoring Influences, such as good
atmosphere, high grounds, good drainage
&c. we're present,
DIR. EUGENE HodE
Said there was general prevalence oil
good health Just now; there were some
cases OF scarlet fever, few in number, but
yery severe in character; there were also
some diphtheria and typhoid fever, but
they were less frequent than formerly. /.
One Of the very best physicians, and
largest practitioners in the city, said:
HThere is q great deal OF sickness in vari.
Gus parts OF the city just now, attribute:
bic entitely to the variable weather, and
to the time OF year. This sickness is nearly
all the result Of colds, such as pneumonia,
bronchitis, throat and fectoral diseases.
There is quite number Of cases OF scarlet
fever and diphtheria, and a good many
cases Iot typhoid fever scattered around
through the city, but the death rate has
not been increased materially"