The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-29

70 90 into the prophyIaetie measures used
in fre sick r0erI.
What are the symptoms
''ScarIet fever usually begins Win
chill. vomiting. a convnision. fever, SIRE
throat and Faels symptoms as as asso-
ciate1 with fever. namely. h@a iassSf. rep
I'll pulse. flushed face. thirst loss ~ a5sGe-
flte. possibly seifrtur1- These ssTaf,soFE
continue for q variable period 'arstif the
eruption occurs. which = ssr,r7 twenty
four hours 10 two or fhrse days Tfss
usually commences on tta face. neck.
chest or shoulders ard spreads rapidly
over the body and disappea-s in the orcer
iR which Il first APPEAR These are
merely initial symptoms and fhe future
IS mptoms depsnd upon progress OF the
case and complications
Dr. NfIler's Opinion
The history OF scarlet fever Is interest
Ing. since il can Be dated back 90 years,
20 an Italian. Who called Il the scarlet
disease Al thai tine, however. the dis
ease was not DISTINGUISHED from measles.
and not until SyGenhaEi. afty years later,
separated tie TWO diseases. we're they
known separately. Since then the dis
ease sas been called scaFtatina, or scar
Ter fever. The savants OF oacteriology
have lately ascribed the dissemination
OF scarlet fever to the existence OF micro
organisms that fructify ia the secretions
OF the throat IN The epitheIiar layer OF
the skin, and probably wherever the ex-
haiatious OF the body arise. and there -
no doubt that through this agency the
disease Is propagated and disseminated
The virulenee OF the disease differs in
time and locality. and the susceptibility
OF persons 10 II IL such that large
family only Oae may be affected. The
II rTasa n a *
sernination OF measles or smallpox: II -
more limited than either. but II IS more
destructive In its character 10 life. and
leaves behind after the primary disease
chronic affections which lay the founda-
ton for other diseases which eventually
directly or indirectly destroy life
unfortunately. no means Of procuring
immunity from this disease has as yet
been discovered for that reason isola-
ton Is the only means known for its
suppression and subjugation. IL Is evident,
therefore, that the latter can only De ae-
complished by municipal authority.
whereby strict quarantine can De main
tanned. as relating to the closing OF all
public schools. theaters, libraries and a
proper enforcement of all sanitary rtgu-
lations in private houses
Nothing Is OF greater Importance tnan
a knowledge OF the symptoms ana treat
ment in affected districts. with this
knowledge parents can secure sanitary
results Ia the initial stage OF the disease
Ii will enable them 10 at once proceed 10
isolate the person affected and procure
medical assistance II within reach.
There Is no doubt that the disease can
he limited In it's range OF dissemination
in IT'S early stage by covering the oofy
with any oily or greasy substance tnat
will prevent the wholesale distribution
OF the epithelilr layer of the SKIN during
the period of desquamatlon. or shedding
This. | have no doubt. is advised by med
ical men generally.
THE board is I'm direct touch with the
most advanced ideas on this question.
and the means which have already been
pursued will IN the end prove the wisdom
of our proceedings"
The Views of DIR. Russell.
Scarlet fever is due TO a specific poison
capable Of reproducing itself.
.'Epidemics are caused principally by in
accommodation II is true that cases
occasionally occur independent OF any cpl
deInic and apparently OF any contagious
element. but such cases, like those occur
ring under circumstances readily explain
ed. are due 10 infection with the scarla-
tlnous poison This is explained by the
fact that the specific contagion possesses
vitality and latency which permits its
TRANSFORMATION 10 great distances. II may
be conveyed by the clothing, furniture.
through the mail by letters and by food
from the sick room. The coDtagion rs so
volatile and intense that the briefest con
tact with scarlatinoUs patient or expo
sure 10 the atmosphere OF the sick room
may he sufficient for infection.
THE period of most intense contagious
ness Is most likely during the stage of des-
auamation. or shedding. but some authori-
ties contend that IL is just AS contagious
during the bloom OF the eruption. The
above shows that personal intercourse is
the main factor in the spread of the dis
ease, and the main cause of it's becoming
epidemic All other conditions and Gle
ments arr OF minor Importance. Epi-
denies of scarlet fever usually begin with
a few scattered cases. and not infrequent-
~. such case being of a mild type, no re-
strictions are imposed, intercourse with
other children is permitted. and the pa
tent returna to school 10 disseminate the
disease throughout the community.
1T seems sometimes TO be almost impos-
sihle to prevent scarlet fever from hecom-
ing endemic There is really no effectual
method Of protecting the susceptible from
the contagion of scarlet fever. Much.
however. can he accomplished In limiting
tho presence of the disease by prompt ana
efficient isolation of the sick and by non
may be diminished by ventilation. diffusion
and dilution Frequent bathing and in.
JUNCTION during the period of desquamation.
or shedding will cffectually prevent the
diffusion of the cast-off particles of the
epidermis in the surrounding atmosphere
and thereby limit To very considerable
extent the dissemination Of the poison.
The discharges OF the patient and all
vessels employed in the sick room should
be thoroughly disinfected The clothing
worn by the patient. the bed linen and
Other clothing should either he destroyed
or be submitted TO some certain disinfect-
ing process
After tho patient is well the room
should he subjected 10 An equally effective
process Of cleansing and disinfection No
unprotected person should he permitted
20 occupy IT for a reasonable period there
after The prevalence and mortality Of
scarlet fever demand the rigid enforce
meut % every practicable method OF pre-
vention"
ANOTHER WHARF GOES DOWN.
Industrious Teretlo Eats Away Piles