The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-28

The continued and alarming prev
alence throughout the city of con-
tagious disease, especially diphtheria
and scarlet fever, again brings up the
necessity of stemminE ons,aughts Of
these diseases, and the members of the
board Of health and superintendent OF
Schools Howells have now pooled in
terests in a common endeavor to lessen
the number Of cases as far as mere
human effort can 60.
Superintendent Howels is of the be-
lief that the present system used in
preventing the children Of n house
hold afflicted with a transmissable dis
ease from attending school is the
thorough and complete a one as can
be devised, and that the carrying out
Of this system in the proper manner
is what is required.
He has been in consultation with
Health Officer Allen for some days past
and it is the intention of these two
officials to formulate a set of reSOlu-
tions to be presented to the board Of
control and to the board Of health for
approval by both these bodies These
resolutions will contain clause pro-
hibiting any child from returning to
school until two weeks after the COM
plete recovery OF either the child it.
self or of any member of the house
hold who has been suffering from a
contagious disease.
FIXING A PENALTY.
The principal feature Of the resolu
ton, however, will be a clause fixing
a penalty upon any teacher who fails
in any way to carry out the regula-
tions of the board concerning contag-
ious disease. The school board will
undoubtedly pass their resolutions, and
if they do, Mr.. Howells believes that
any slight laxity in the enforcement Of
existing rules and regulations which
might have heretofore existed on the
part of the teachers will be speedily
and effectually done away with.
The superintendent stated yesterday
that each and every school building is
in perfect sanitary condition, but 20
be on the safe side, any one, regard
ing whose sanitation, there is any
doubt whatever, will be thoroughly
I-n.gated and dsinfected during this
v eek. when school will be closed for
the holidays.
What is genrally accepted as the
main and principle cause of infectious
disease, however is the public funeral.
| and at its next meeting the board Of
health will undoubtedly adopt some
drastic measures for the suppression
of this evil AS Superintendent How
| ellis said yesterday, "We can prevent
children coming to school from an In
| fected house, but we cannot prevent
| them attending funerals in an infected
| house"
A CASE IN POINT.
A case which is but one of many
is now being investigated by the board
of health. A little girl in certain
section of the city died from diph-
iberia. A large public funeral was
held, and four of the dead child's girI
schoolmates acted as pail bearers
coming to school of course, the next
day as usual. None of these especial
| children have as yet contracted the
| disease, but medical authorities tel
us that a second party may convey
the germs Of sickness from q first
to a third party without of necessity
contracting that disease themselves.
The board Of health is given powel
by the state laws to prohibit and en-
force the prohibition of public fu,
nerals in houses infected by a con-
tagious disease, and it is the intention
of the board to use a little of it,
power from now on.
AS an evidence that contagious dis
ease is not on the decrease in tht
city it may be mentioned that forty
seven new cases of scarlet fever ant
diphtheria have been reported to the
secretary of the hoard Of health s,
| far this week.