Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-10-26

Z
This is a correct and complete report
of all contagious diseases. Let US study
It,
The year previous there had been no
eases OF scarlet fever, no typhoid. aud
not so many cases of dysentery and
diarrhoeal diseases. In the last report
large number OF cases of La Grippe
had been given. There has been a
large number of cases of scarlet fever
in the country near Lancaster and
owing to the miIdress of the disease
not much precaution was taken against
its spread. As result we find il came
into our city from three different sour
ces and affecting three families in Feb
ruary, 1898. BY active quarantine its
spresd was stopped. Owing to the
fact that the children taken sick had
been attending school. the city was
strictly quarintined for ten days. The
quarantine was cheerfully received and
faithfully followed. There were no new
cases and no deaths La July a case
occurred in the western part of the city
and in September cases occurred in
other parts but there was no spread.
We fear an epidemic and ask all to do
Whist they can to prevent it in case it
should break out again.
In December man coming from
Dakota here was taken sick with
typhoide fever and soon after his wife.
Owing to the careful manner in which
his case was handled there was no
spread from it, his wife was removed
from here early in her sickness and
died in Cassville. No other cases oc-
Cured in the city.
LaGrippe as an epidemic has prob.
ably left us for another quarter of q
century as is its custom. No one knows
from whence it comes or whittier it
goes but history repeats itself and we
may not hear of it again for many
years.
One may ask why so many cases of
diarlhoea and dysentery. 1t may be
due to the peculiar dry, hot season we
had this summer. The elements most
likely to produce it are bad water, de-
caying vegetables and fruits, especially
when eaten uncooked, and sudden
changes of temperature. When it starts
in an epidemic form, DIR, bad air, poor
diet, and insufficient clothing help to
increase the number of cases and the
severity of each. A great many neglect
to disinfect the discharges and so on
that account it runs through an entire
family and neghborhood. Perhaps
the well or cisteTn from which water is
obtained, becomes con animated or may
be the vegetables in use or the fruit
eaten is the source Of infection Not CO
there has been no fatality from these
diseases but it is lnconvenient to have
them and they can be prevented in a
large measure by cleanliness of person,
property and surroundings and instead
of the number increasing from year TO
year it should diminish Those diseases
are certainly contagious and prophy-
Tactic precautions should be taken 10
prevent them. The great number Of
cases would argue neglected and
dirty city, but few complaints have
come to the health officer of nuIsances.
would especially call the attention
of the general public to the number OF
cases of consumption. Why so few
One can not but say we are largely ex-
empt from that NEST terrible Of all
diseases This can be partially ac-
counted for by cur climate which is
quite dry and to the care our people
take Of themselves especially when ex-
posed to colds. Other elements may be
the small number Of consumptivc fam
lies in the city, the purity OF this air,
the good ventilation Of our homes more
particularly the sleeping apartments
{
people. Perhaps the occupations have
much to do with this We have nc
unhealthy shops, 10 close and dusty
mills, nor crowded groups Of working
people.
What has been done i'd the way d
sanitation is not satisfactory nor can il
be under present conditions. We have
no waterworks Or waste pipes 70 convey
out Of the city Stops and waste. WE
have no provision for getting rid Of tn