The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-30
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.

Resolved. That in compliance with the
order of the health officer. the library dis
continue the issue Of hooks for home use
until permit be given by that officer for
its re-opening and that all books now out
when returned to the library are to be
kept separate and not replaced on the
shelves for circulation until thoroughly
fumigated.
The above resolution went into effect
yesterday afternoon Immediately after
it had been passed and no more books
will be issued. The reading room de-
partment. however. will remain open.
as will also the reference department.
The books as they come in will be
placed on shelves in an upstairs room
and will be fumigated by the formal
dehyde gas method. which all agree
will kill all the germs. If there are
any, which may he found in the vol
umes.
While the library directors think that
| the closing down of the circulating de-
| partment is an extreme measure, they
| nevertheless bowed to the wishes Of
! the health officer. who is empowered
! by law to close the building, despite
what the directors may say. Librar-
! ian Carr stated yesterday that after
twenty years experience in library.
work he never knew of q single ease
whore contagion was distributed by
means of books circulated.
BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE.
He said that the question has been
thoroughly discussed a number of
times at the meetings of the National
Librarians association. The last time
it was brought up q resolution was
adopted to the effect thar in cases OF
an epidemic of contagious disease the
closing of libraries was unnecessary.
and all that should be required was a
list of the names Of those families in
whose homes contagious disease ex-
listed in oredr that they be refused
books, and that such books as they
had taken out might be called in and
disinfected. Mr.. Carr said he was
given to understand that this plan
would be put in force here until the
directors meeting yesterday.
DR.. Allen, when seen and asked II
the closing of the circulating depart
ment was a precautionary or a neces.
sary step, said:
This is by no means a precautionary
want to stop this spread Of contagious
disease. There are people who are
contracting contagious disease by this
promiscuous distribution Of books. ol
if there are not any there are many
VINO are in constant danger of con
tracing either scarlet fever or diph.
iberia, but scarlet fever more partic'
ularly."
HI,a h., q
at present how long he would keep tn,
; circulation Of books discontinued.
WHAT BOARD HAS DONE.
He further remarked that the boart
of health has done all in it's power I,
prevent the spread of disease, havln;
closed the schools. absolutely pre-
, vented public funerals and taken othe
steps tending toward diminution il
the number of cases Of transmissabl
disease
Nevertheless the number of cases Il
increasing rather than diminishing
I There were last week reported to tn
secretary of the board of health 10
cases. of which thirty-flve We're diph
iberia and seventy-two scarlet fever
This shows that diphtheria is abatin
, to a certain extent and scarlet feve
increasing at an alarming rate.
: Scarlet fever is considered more dan
gerous by far than is diphtheria, OF
account of the serious sequences tina
follow it. Children are left deaf, o
crippled with rheumatism and otha
diseases, There are three grades q
scarlet fever, the mild, medium an
malignant types. DR.. Allen saws tina
the type now prevailing in this city j
the medium, which is almost as muc
to be feared as is the malignant.