Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-12-28
coNTAeIous Diseases
now They Are Conveyed From the sick

~~e-SrSL~<
now They Are Conveyed From an s,.r :.
Persons Mt Distance. =
Is sometimes quite difficult tn ia
termine the extent to which the com.
municating particle can be CARRIED I.
IL probable that the air from : email
pox hospital has given the disease to
persons mile distant. On the contra.
ry' scnriet fever has been brought into
Tue ward Of a full but well-aired bos.
pilal ana continued there day With
OUT afsingie person CONTRACTING 4ha
disease II we could be sure as to the
secfetlons ana all the skin separations
from scarlet fever it would not he a
very communicable disease; vet wa
nave known a dress folded IN NJ tba
oed OF dying patient and placed In 4
.runk' 10 convey the poison TO fani-
~ OF children four miles distant. when
TIE dress was unfolded in their nres-
ehce three months afterward. Whom
,ng-cough and diphtneria are proba-
ply never conveyed by the first case
occurring, except by the breath or
sputa OF the patient. Measles. on tina
other hand, are communicated at much
greater distances. In general, any one
u thls class OF diseases having become
eplaeHic, the communication to othera
y from houses and clothing far more
than from persons. Difficult as if il tn
determine accurately all the facts as to
me conveyance of these diseases. their
transmissibility, their times OF incep-
tion and the time of greatest risk OF
contaglon, or when the patient ceases
70 De a risk to others, no subject is OF
more vital Importance to communities.
pr Vacher, the medical officer OF
blrkenbead, and DR.. Dukes, of Rugby.
nave given much attention to the sub-
Ject and have classified large number
Oh cases as to the time from the first
symptom to the beginning of eruption.
the time from beginning of eruption to
cessation OF fever, and the time from
beginning of eruption to when the M
tlent ceases to be infectiye. They
state the latter as follows: For small
pox' oo days; measles, 27 days; scarlet
lever, 40 days; diphtheria, % days;
mumps, p days; typhoid fever, 20
days.
These will serve as general guides.
In all cases where schools are con-
cerned the time of return should be
guarded. 1t is to be remembered that
more depends upon the cleanliness Of
the house and family and upon the
garments worn than upon the person.
1t Is often question how far boards
OF health shall require reports of con-
tagious diseases. In any good system
OF sanitary government such report is
required as to smallpox, scarlet fever,
dlphtherla, typhus fever, cholera, and
as to measles when extensively cpl
demic. We think strict rules should
be enforced upon physicians as to such
report, but that they should be paid
therefor, inasmuch as such report is
OF special service, quite different from
the certifcation of a death. The hab-
its of different countries and States
differ much, but all agree that the re-
port should be made by some one.
This is rendered more essential by re-
cent facts, which show that by early
and strict isolation the common com
municable diseases are often prevented
from becoming epidemic.
1t is often a question how far attend
of f,1nn14n1c ethn,,lJ h.
in cases of death from communicable
diseases. We know of a recent case in
which the attendance of children at a
church funeral, the death having been
caused by malignant diphtheria, prob
ably led to a dozen deaths and many
cases in sparse country village. The
exposure is far greater for children
than for adults, If all details as to the
washing of the dead body, the dealing
with clothing, the time of transfer to
the coffin, the use of disinfectants,
could be carefully regulated, it is
probable that the risk would be very
little; but as we can not rely upon the
carrying out of all these details, it is
better to prohibit public funerals, and
to announce cause of death in all cases
OF the more dangerous communicable
diseases.
Similar caution is needed as to the
visits of friends upon those who are
thus sick. While there is no need OF
such fear as will preclude assistance
from older persons where there is
need of help, there is ne excuse for ex-
posing the young. With due precau-
ton as to airing garments, it is very
rare that communicable diseases are
carried to others by the casual visitor.
We thus desire to caution III against
unnecessary exposure, and to secure
public opinion as an aid in preventing
the spread of class of diseases which
counts SO many victims.-E. 7. hide
pendent.
Auto-lnoculation of Boils.
Those who are ever troubled with
boils know as Job did, that it is COM
mon to have crop of boils. This is
doubtless due to impurities circulating
in the bleed it is also supposed that
it is possible to get a crop of boils
from one by what is called auto-inocu-
lation. Which means that the dis
j H.,