Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.


No Cause for Alarm-New Regulations By
| the Health Once.
| The number Of cases Of scarlet fever and
diphtheria reported to the health Office under
the new law to prevent the spread Of contagious
diseases has not been unusually large for the
season, the average now being less than i've per
day.
WHAT THE HEALTH OFFICER SAYS
| Health Officer Townshend said to STAR re-
porter this morning that he did not think there
was any more diphtbsria or scarlet fever here
now than there usually is at this time of the
year This, he said, Is the season of the year
for such diseases, and the number seems large
simply because attention has been directed to
them by the new law. Heretofore, said the
doctor. only the deaths were reported and there
was no way Of telling the number of cases, but
now every case 10 reported.
''In the cases that L have examined thus far I"
he continued, ''the disease is in q very mild
form and in many instances it was difficult to
tell whether the patients wero really suffering
from diphtheria or not. Yes the diphtheria is
considered among the class of diseases that are
The doctor further said that there was no
cause whatever for alarm and that Judging
rom reports of deaths neither disease Is as bad
AZ 1t was week or two ago.
TIE NEW REGULATIONS.
Under the new law the health officer has
adopted set Of regulations, which were yes
terday adopted by the Commissioners and are
therefor now in force. They are as follows:
The term scarlet fever, as applied in the
act shall be held to include scarlatina, scarlet
rash and canker rash. All persons suffering
from either diphtheria Or scarlet fever are to
be isolated in rooms as far removed as possible
from those occupied by other persons in the
building, and upon the top floor, where it ia
practicable. No person other than the physi-
clan in attendance, and the nurse or nurses
shall be admitted to such room during the pre-
yaience OF the disease. Every room occupied
by patient suffering from either diphtheria or
scarlet fever shall be cleared of all needless
clothing, carpets, drapery and other materials
likely to harbor the poisons of the disease
Soiled bed and body linens shall be Immediately
placed in vessels of water containing a solution
OF bi-chlorlde OF mercury, chloride of zinc and
other suitable disinfectants. Excremental dis
charges from patients shall be received into
vessels containing such a solution, and all YES
sells used shall be kept scrupulously clean and
thoroughly disinfected. discharges from the
throat, nose and mouth shall be received upon
pieces Of cloth, which must be Immediately
burned
"All persons recovering from either diph-
liberia or scarlet fever shall be considered dan
gerous and shall not be permitted to associate
public assembly until a certificate has been fur
nished to the effect that they may go abroad
without danger of disseminating the cOntagion
II shall be the duty of the person in charge Of
the premises where a case of diphtheria or
scarlet fever exists to exercise all reasonable
care in the prevention of the comminglng of
persons who come into contact with the patient
and other persons whereby the contagion might
be disseminated.
The body Of person who has died from
either diphtheria or scarlet fever shall be i'm
mediately disinfeeted and placed in a coffin,
which shall be tightly closed, and the body shall
not be exposed to view except through glass
and shall not be taken to and church or place
OF public assembly and shall be buried within
forty-cight hours, unless otherwise ordered by
the health officer. No public funeral shall be
held in dwelling in which there is a case of
either diphtheria or scarlet fever, nor in which
n death from either of said diseases has recently
occurred. Immediately upon the recovery of
person who has been suffering from either
diphtheria or scarlet fever, or upon the death
Of a person who has been so suffering. the
room or rooms occupied shall be thoroughly
disinfected by exposure for several hours to
the fumes OF chlorine gas Of burning sul-
phur, and shall thereafter be thoroughly
cleaned and exposed to currents of fresh air.
All clothing, bedding carpets and other tex
tiles which have been exposed to the contagion
Of the disease shall be either burned. exposed
to superheated steam or thoroughly boiled"