The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-03-03
Scarlet Fever.


DR.. w. Frank Hines, secretary of the
Chestertown, Nd, Board of Health. has
issued the following, which we commend
to our readers:
The occurrence of cases of scarlet fever
in various localities in the fall and winter,
makes it necessary to call the attention of
parents and guardians to the law governing
the exposure of such cases, and to insist
upon more rigid observance Of such pre-
cautionary measures as are essential to pre-
vent its spread.
Scarlatina is the technical term for scar.
let fever. 1t does not mean "a mild form
of scarlet fever, and therefore less danger
Gus to sick and well, as has been said. The
mildest case may be productive of the
most serious, and it is as necessary to take
all proper care and precautions in mild as
in serious cases.
Whenever child is found to have scar
let fever, it should at once be placed in
room to itself, as far remote from the other
members of the household as possible. All
articles of furniture, carpets, curtains and
other materials not absolutely essential
should be removed No one should be al
lowed to enter the room except the one
who has charge of the child. Towels. or
pieces of sheet frequently dipped in solu-
tion Of carhOlic acid, six ounces zinc sulp..
four ounces water, three gallons, should
be hung on strings or pinned to beds or
walls. this may also be used for washing
the hands Of the attendant at frequent in
tervals. Under the direction of the doctor
the patient should be annointed at least
once daily with carbolized vaselne. This
not only hastens desquamation (pecling)
but if properly done, will so disinfect and
destroy the germs thar this peeling process
(the most dangerous as to contagion) will
be less likely to drop scales and fragments
to be the source of infection.
All towels. sheets, handkerchiefs or
cloths used with these should be boiled i'm
mediately, or better still, nothing but old
clothes that can be Immediately burned
should be used.
All deiecta from bowels or bladder should
be disinfected and, it possible, burned.
No child should be allowed to mingle
with other members of the family until at
least two weeks from complete desquama-
ton; not from the time of convalescence
but from the end of peeling, aud not then
without the child having been given awarm
bath with some suitable disinfectant in it.
best to be advised by the doctor
Children should not be readmitted to
school from house where the infection
has existed, except upon certificate from
a physisian that they have not been ex-
posed for two weeks as above
The room occupied by the sick should
be well secured, whitewashed and aired.
after having he'd from one to two pounds
of sui phur burnt in it. The bedding.
when of cheap material, had better be
burnt, otherwise, well aired and cleaned,
after being exposed to the sulphur as above
The experience Of the best sanitarians
and physicians go to prove the efficacy of
such methods. They entail more or less
trouble but the results warrant us in urg-
ing their adoption.
The attention of parents is also called to
the law requiring all children to be vacci-
mated The law says within twelve months
from birth. whether done this early or not.
it should receive attention before the child
arrives at school age. Then the teachers
of our public schools, especially, would not
be compelled to (as is now so often the
casel exclude the child from school.
. .