The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-05-07
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
How They Are Conveyed From the Sick 70
Persons at q Distance.

~, scarlet fever has been brought into
the ward OF full but well-aired hos
pital and continued there day with
out a single person contracting the
disease. Ii we could be- sure as To the
secretiOns and all the skin separations
from scarlet fever il would not be a
very communicable disease: vet We
have known a dress folded up at the
bed of a dying patient and placed in a
trunk, 20 convey the poison TO u fami-
" OF children four miles distant. when
the dress was unfolded in their pres
ence three months afterward. WhoOp-
ing-cough and diphtheria are proba-
bly, never conveyed by the first case
occurring. except by the breath or
sputa of the patient. Measles. on the
greater distances. In general, any one
of this class of diseases having become
epidemic. the communication TO others
Is from houses and clothing far more
than from persons. Difficult as il is TO
determine accurately all the facts "a tn
the conveyance OF these diseases. their
transmissibility. their times of incep-
ton and the time of greatest risk OF
contagiOn. or when the patient ceases
TO be a risk Ia others. no subject Is oi
more vital Importance TO communities.
DIR. Fachcr. the medical officer OF
Birkenhead. and DR. Dukes. of Rugby.
have given much attention tn the sub
ject and have classified large number
OF eases as Ia the time from the first
symptom 10 The beginning of eruption.
the sine from bcgilning OF eruption to
cessation OF fever. and the time from
beginning of eruption to when the pa
tient ceases 10 be irfective They
state the latter as follows: For small
pox. 30 days; measles. % days: scarlet
fever, 40 days; diphtheria, % days:
mumps. 81 days; typhoid fever, %
DAYS.
These will serve as general guides.
In all cases where schools are con-
cerned the time of return should be
guarded. 1t i to be remembered that
more depends upon the cleanliness of
the house and family and upon the
garments worn than upon the person.
IL is often question how far boards
OF health shall require reports of con-
tagious diseases. In any good system
OF sanitary government such report il
required as To smallpox, scarlet fever.
diphtheria, 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 certification of 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 question how far attend
ANU eit ais Dc DICN GulCu
in cases of death from communicable
diseases. We know of a recent case in
which the attendance of children at
church funeral, the death having been
caused by malignant diphtheria. prob
ably led TO 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 no 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 all against
unnecessary exposure, and to secure
public opinion as an aid in preventing
the spread of class of diseases which
counts so many victins--N. Y. IHde-
pendent.
Auto-InocuIation of Boils.