Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-21
ssats Board d Health.

State Board d HeoJf0.
The State Bo.rd Of Health has just ready
fm public distribution an Important eifculsF
On the nature and character Of The infectious
diseases Known 70 cur l.fiduie- Believing
ii to be Of great value to ali eitixeas re pub
Hsh below the chief portions Of this useful
document;
CHICKEN Pox. Period of incubation, l3
IA days. MAJ be shorter or may be prolonged
70 Is or 10 days. Period Of invasion very
good. The eruption consists Of clear
watsry bIlsters OF yesieles, scattered irregu-
lA.iy over the body The eruption 10 often
the FIRST thing motto d. Premoaitofy symp
toms are often overlooked ~ also are often
the small red spots preceding the vesieies.
The bli..sr." reach their full development
in "a or 3s hours With the appearance Of
the eruption, the fever decreases.
CONVENTION (puLMoSARr TrBEkcrLo
SIS. The investigation Of the last few
years make i certain that this 10 an infee
tsus disease. and alec make il likely that
the only serious source Of danger is the spat-
um, or e1pectora ion. Avoid splitting upon
floors, in handkerchiess. OF upon other things
within doors where the infectious spufum
~iil be dried and palverized- Use a spit
cup. Tuberculosis or eonsumpsive children
should not be allowed 10 attend school, and
persons with this disease should rot teach
CkouP. Membraneous c. oIp Is now gen.
rally regarded as diphtheria of the air pas
sage., and the same precautions are apple
abb 10 il as in ordinary diphtheria.
DIrHrHERia Period of incubation 2-7
days but may be logger or shorter. The
distinctive feature Of the disease IS the false
me nbrane which inyIdes the mucous men,
brane, more frequently Of the throat The
false membrane appears al hrst as wh'ti.h
patch, or there may be several such spots,
shich may gradually OF rapidly increase in
size and coalesce lhs condition and ap-
pearance Of the false embrane as hrst dis
covered may remain stationary for awhile
Or gradually disappear Occasionally in
cases Of dipbtheria the false membrane 10
absent, or in localities where it Is not 10 be
seen. When diphtheria is prevalent it is
safer TO regard all cases Of sore throat as
diI htheria, and to require reasonable
amount of care until they are pronounced
non diphtheritic and non-infeetious by a
ply sictan. ''DiphtheriIic sore throat IS
iiphthera
/ The dlphtheriiic infection is much more
lar gerous To children than to adults MANY
other hand articles and rooms infected with
it may retain their dangerous qualities for
long while. Children who have had dph-
iberia should not be readrn'ted to school
earlier than or weeks after recovery. or
not until precautions in the way of thorough
| dsinfection, etc, have been taken which aye
| satisfactory to the local board Of health.
lnfsc tion may be carried by those who have
| not had the disease.
| EaYsIrELAs. Infection usually gain, ad-
mission to the system through & wound or
abrasion Of the skin or mucous membranes.
| The infection may be carried by the clothing,
or the hands of attendants.
GERMAN MEASLES. This eruptive disease
| has no relation to measles and scarlet fever
with which it is sometimes COMPOUNDED. Its
period Of incubation is long, 2 to 3 weeks.
The eruption appears earlier than in measles,
often within "a hours tter the first symptoms.
The rash fades about the third day or earlier
aud the fever gradually disappears with the
rash. The eruption is not so "blOtchy' as
| that of measles; sometimes resembles that
of scarlet fever. Throat symptoms not so
marked feature as in scarlet fever. Patient
should not return to school until two weeks
after recovery.
CHAMBERS An infectious disease of
]
A horse with CHAMBERS is too dangerous to be
permitted to live.
MEASLES. Period of incubation days on
an average. or ~ days to the appearance of
the rash. Fever falls rapidly after the e-up-
ton is fully out. Rash usually begins on
the face as slightly raised red spots which
form crescentic groups, coalescing into
patches of irregular outline. Eruption more
d stinctly 'bloiehy' than in scarlet fever and
a duller -eI instead of scarlet. Measles is
infec tious in its earliest stages before the
rash has appeared. The infection may be
carried by clothing Children should mol
return TO school for at least two weeks after
recovery.
MuMrs In most cases the period of in
cubaton is from IA to 81 days, but may be
shorter. The distinctive characteristics OF
the disease are the fever and the swelling
and tenderness of the glands just below and
in front of the ear. The swelling often ex-
tends upon the face or down upon the neck
The patient is infectious for Mt least three
weeks after the swelling of the glands, and
possibly sometimes before the swelling be-
gins.
PSEuMoNi. Many observations seem to
show that pneumonia. at least sometimes, is
contagious, In all cases it would be prudent
~
that it may all be destroyed or disinfec.ed.
The sputum is uadoubted the sole source
of infection.
SCARLET FEVER. (Scarlatiua, Scarlt I
Rash Canker Rash, Rash y Period of
incubation, 2 j days The onset of tie
symptoms Is usually sudden. The rash ap-
pears within q or IS honrs after the first
symptoms Shorter than in measles and
smallpox usually coming out first on the
neck and chest, sftewsrd extending to the
limbs. The fever does not abate sud ienly
after the appearance of the eruption, as in
measles and small pox. Rash consists of a
multitude of fine red or scarlet points, the
color of which is diffused over the whole
surface. Sore throat is almost always an
early and prominent symptom The tongue
usually presents peculiar appearance des-
ignated as strawberry tongue" Cases are
infectious as soon AS the eruption has ap
peared, and until the completion of the des-
qusmaton. or peeling, which is often no,
before 6 or s weeks. The infection may
come directly from the patient, or be car
ried upon the person or in the clothing of
those who have not had the disease. In
fected clothing, furniture, rooms, etc, may
retain their dangerous qualities for long
while, unless very careful disinfection is
done. Children from 2 to years of age
are more likely to take the disease, and when
they do, are more endangered by it, than
persons at other stages of life. After 10 OF
u years of age there is a rapid diminution
Of susceptibility to the infection of scarlet
fever.
SMALL Pox Period of incubation 10 to
" days In about three days more (some-
times on the second) the eruption begins to
show as small red spots or spccks, and then
as pimples or papules, at first on the face
and wrists, gradually passing over the body.
Sometimes at this stage diffused rash sp-
pears. The papules are changed in about
- hours into vesicles. which, when they are
sufficiently developed, show a characteristic
depression in the center, that is, are "unbili-
Gated" Severe pain in the back is some
what characteristic of smallpox. There is
usually a marked diminution of the fever
after the eruption is out Smallpox is in
tensely infectious The small pox pate ut
is infectious until the skin is cleared of all
crusts and careful disinfection is done.
Vaccination not o1ly lightens small pox if
one happens to take it, but when we'll done
al -