Evening star., 1896-11-18
TRAc ED TO i NIL X
Believed to Have Caused the Spread Of
Scarlet Fever.
New Cases of Diphtheria. Reported
Explains the Contagious Signs.

Three cases of diphtheria were recorded
on the health Office books yesterday, and
this mornings mail brought an additional
case While the reports show a decrease
IN the number of new cases Of di2htheria
there has been an increase in the num-
Der OF cases of scarlet fever reported this
week. Four cases from East Washington
were reported to the office yesterday and
the day before, while last week there were
also several cases. In the cases reported
last week, however, there was no COM
mon cause that could be assigned, but in
the cases this weekz1t developed that the
parties In the four houses had been get
ting milk from the same dairyman. This
was the only common cause for the parties
were not on visiting terms, nor were they
near neighbors. AS the supply of milk
was the only cause that could be assigned
with any degree of certainty Health Off
Ger Woodward last night made INQUIRIES of
the dairyman and learning that he had
been getting his milk from two farms in
Maryland, the permits of the owners of
the farms were revoked without notice.
This was done under the second section of
the milk law, which, after defining the
manner In which permits shall be issued
says: Provided that said permit may be
suspended or revoked at any time without
notice by the health officer, whenever the
milk supply from said dairy or dairy
farm Is exposed to infection by Asiatic
cholera, anthrax, diphtheria, erysipelas,
scarlet fever, smallpox, splenic fever, tu-
berculosis. typhoid fever, typhus fever or
yellow fever, SO as to render its distribu-
tion dangerous to public health"
This morning two inspectors were sent
from the health office to the farms up in
Maryland to make inspections, while the
milk received al the depot from the farms
was seized by another inspector and re-
mad fho al,
shipped.
While there have been great many
cases OF scarlet fever here within the
past few months there has only been one
death since July. The disease is much
milder now than 1t was years ago, SO
many of the older physicians say, and for
this reason Health Officer Woodward and
the medical inspectors say 1t is more likely
to spread
People pay too little attention to mild
cases of the disease, they say. and patients
are permitted to go about the house when
their condition Is such as to spread the
disease. In ceSe here only few days
ago the inspector directed that the SICK
child be kept isolated for fear of spreading
the disease, but because of the marked
improvement shown the patient was per-
mitted to go where the other members OF
the family were and the result was that
another member Of the family was stricken
and there was another siege of six weeks
in store for the family.
The milk law was made as far reach
ing possible and extends the jurisdiction
Of the health officer to farms from which
milk is shipped, but because of lack of
funds these places cannot be inspected
DIR. Woodward would like to have them.
The several sanitary inspectors are now
paying especial attention to dairies and
dairy FARMS and unless these places are
found in good sanitary condition soTae
prosecutions will follow. Under the regu-
lations persons who keep cows in Enclosures
are required to have the land well drained
and free from filth, and where cow yards
are found in a filthy condition the owner
may expect to answer in court.
The Warning Signs.
In letter to The Star today Health
Officer Woodward says:
'"The Communication of 'Sanitas' in The
Star of Monday is based upon misinforma-
ton in reference to the regulations now In
force to prevent the spread of scarlet fever
and diphtheria in the District of Columbia
The regulations cited by him have not been
in force for about two years, but as it is
not improbable that copies of the regula-
tions referred to have been issued since
that time. in which the amendment had not
teen inserted, a misunderstanding as to
the facts in the case is quite possible.
Sections and Of these regulations
we're stricken out, and in their place was
inserted the following:
main on premises in which there Is case
Of scarlet fever for period of not less
than three days after the complete re-
covery OF the patient as certified by the al
tending physiciano
THE warning sign shall remain on prem
ises in which there is case of diphtheria
for period Of not less than four weeks
after the complete disappearance OF the
membrane as certified by the attending
physician, but may be removed before the
expiration of that period if meteorological
examination by competent person has
demonstrated the absence of the klebs-
Loeffler bacillus.
I'm no case will the warning sign be re-
moved before the premises have been dis
infected to the satisfaction of the health
officer.
In view of the fact that in fatal cases
after the removal of the corpse, the bac-
terra which remain can be destroyed by
disinfection, such premises are relieved
from quarantine as soon as the necessary
disinfection can be done.
LAS to the removal of placards after the
recovery or death of patient, this depart
ment necessarily depends somewhat upon
the honesty of the householder as to wheth-
er the requisite diSinfection has been done
1t is. of course. not improbable that in
some cases II is imposed upon. If the pub
lie disinfecting service, which has been
asked for during the past two years. is es-