The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-17
NO D|PHTHER|A HERE.
Supposed Cases on nj. Pleasant Prove
to be Scarlet Fever.
IN GOOD SANITARY CONDITION.
Asiatic Cholera r. Not to be Feared In This
City ~ the Ordinary Rules of Cieanii-
ness arc Observed d-Heaith Depart
mept Regulations RigIdiy Enforced.

Some excitement was caused at Mount
Pleasant yesterday by the repori that an
epidemic OF diphtheria had been loose.
Subsequent investigation proved that
the scare was caused by a couple Of casss
of scarlet few which Is more or
less prevalent during the entire yelr.
DIprheria il almost unknown in this
city at the present time. DR.. Swarts OF
the health department stated TO re-
porter last night that there have not been
more than two white cards hung out
during the past four months ana that
the public has absolutely Doshing fear
from tuis ugly disease at present
Some Gases OF Scarlet Fever.
Scarlet fever naiptains an intermit-
tant warfare the year around, but 1t has
not in any portion OF the city assumed
the proportions of an epidemic, and is
not mt all likely to do so. The vigilance
Of the health department has kept The
malady at by, and the spasmodc ais
eases that crop out from time TO tiinc
are checked befor they can spread to
any alarming extent. me schooinouTe
usually makes itself manifest there
and heroic measures are taken to quell 1t
before IL can get hold. The vicinity OF
the Arnold sc DOL had a run of the pest
short time ago, but prompt acton OF the
department soon Ail,e tbe lew cases
a similar visitation that met the same
fate.
Measles Prevalent Among Small Chill
Messles have also caused mors or less
soicitude and when Appearing among
very small children are productive OF
considerable mortality, but this disease
is easily kept at long range by tax
ing il in hand as soon as IL
appe ,rs. The kindergartens are
the favorite camping grounds OF measles
In "A number of these lildre IS schools II
has appeared suddenly aud without
warning and has resulted in an imne Ii
ate falling off of attendance. Teachers
sometimes become unnecessarily alarm q,
yut dis over later on that most OF the
non-attendance Is cause by fear on the
mart OF the parents rather thau Dy any
direct inroads of the disease.
DIR. Swarts Is confident that in the
event of Asiatic chole n tn, city |, s able
10 meet the foe open-handed aud beat 1t
at its own game. The sanitary condition
is Infinitely superior TO what 1t was five
= sfX years ago. fne ucW INV III TtgdTu
70 tie ,nainte ,anc, If vaults has had
most wholesome effect. One thousand
alterations have already bean made rs
prescribed by the new regulation ana
uther families are falling into line as fast
as The plumber can make his way from
house TO house.
City Well Prepared for Cholera
In case cholera should max, its ap-
pearance here 1t would meet with warm
reception. The health department in
sists on a strict observance of the law
relating to the cleaning up of the back
yards. and the result Is that what has IN
former time been the rendezvous
OF ashes and other kinds OF refuse is kept
in a tolerably fair state OF cleanliness.
The people have come to recognize the
value of clean back yards from moral
as well as sanitary standpoint aud re-
quire much less prodding from the de-
partment than they did year or two
ago.
cholera could marshal its forces TO the
best effect is the incorrigible PawtuxeJ
river. II some misguided family az
AIcted with the disease up the
river should empty its sewera 20 into
the stream, as might easily happen,
fetal to this city. The cholera germ
would fnd it's way by this medium into
every family in the city and would
create havoc. Some stringent measures
would have to be taken to prevent this
from being done. The cholera scare last
year had "A most wholesome effect upon
the people and an epide mic of cleanli-
ness instead OF cholera has been the re-
sult
A General Cleaning Up.
The people took every precaution by
fortifying their systems and cleaning up
their yards aud lewers The bugb .ar
has not vet lost its potency and the sys-
TEN of cleanliness still prevails.
Looking the situ alton squarely in
the face the people 1--we little
To fear from the -Asiatic pest even IL it
should make its appearances in New
York. The large crowd of foreigners IL
attendance nc the Worlds fair bri 1htens
the prospects Of the cholera germ To n
certain extent. but il rests with each city
whether or not IL will allow the unwel-
come guest to OBJ ain foothold.