The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-25
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TOW TO X X
- PREVENT DISEASE
State Board of Health Issues Address to
Public on Pressing Question.


Attention is called to the unusual
prevalence Of contagious diseases in
various parts Of the state, and health
authorities and the public are urged
to cooperate in a determined effort 70
prevent their further spread. This may
and viii be accomplished in exact pro-
portion to the conscientious observance
and enforcement of preventive meas
ures, the neglect of which is response
bic for the present situation. In er-
der to properly consider or apply
measures OF prevention ii is essential
to understand the cause, and it is one
of the greatest triumphs of modern
medical science that through It we ara
now in possession Of this knowledge.
Contagious diseases are caused By
specific poisonous germs or living or
ganisms. so small as to be visible only
by means of the microscope, which
have their sole origin in previous
case of the disease. 1t must be
strictly borne in mind that they can
not be generated or produced by any
other means or agency. These germs,
given off in the various secretions of
the body, or in scales from the skin,
if carried to the system of another
person who is susceptible, viii repro
duce in him the disease, and in nO
other way can it be caused or gener-
ated The organisms which are capa-
BILE If working so much harm may
positively be killed by various disin-
fectants. Hence it follows that IL ev-
cry case of contagious disease were
discovered Immediately upon the ap-
pearance of the first symptoms and
carefully isolated from other persons
until danger of infection were past,
and If then all the germs were de-
stroyed by disinfection, contagious dis
eases would be completely stamped
cut. Unfortunately it seems at pres
ent impossible to attain this ideal.
which must still remain the cherished
dream Of the sanitarian, although that
it will some day be realized as q re-
suit of an enlightened public sentiment
nd Quickened conscience, is conf
IDENTIFY believed.
We do not need to seek far for an
explanation of the visitation which is
exciting so much alarm and appre
hension. and the lesson should not be
allowed 10 pass unheeded. There can
be no question that the responsibility
lies in the wholesale failure to report
cases and the fragrant violations Of
quarantine. This in turn finds an cX-
PLANTATION in the unusually mild char
aCter of the diseaSeS-eSpecially scar
let fever. Never before has so mild Il
type of the latter been known as that
which prevailed for many months prior
TO the present season. The mortality
was practically nil, and a large ma
jOrity of the cases were so light rs TO
produce only the most trivial symp-
toms. The consequence has been that
many people have had no fear of the
disease nor regard for its spread, cheiT
chief concern having been to conceal
its existence if possible. thereby evaa-
ing the annoyance Of quarantine, OF If
quarantined, many have not scrupled
10 6agrantly violate it, scattering the
infection broadcast. There has been a
failure to recognize the fact that from
the mildest case a fatal one may be
conveyed also that an outbreak IS
liable at any time to assume ma
lignant type, and because OF previous
neglect due to its lighter form, be-
come devastating.
With the foregoing facts before US,
the remedy is very apparent. There
must be an aroused public conscience
and more lively regard for the rights
of others. Good citizens need only to
have their attention called to the dan
gers and to the obligations resting
upon them. Others should be shown
no mercy when they shall be discov-
cred by their neighbors in attempting
TO evade the law. They are deliber-
ately menacing the lives and health
of innocent children, and it is the duty
Of all who may have knowledge of it
to notify at once the proper authOri-
ties.
1t is the duty of health officers to
exercise the utmost vigilance at all
times to discover the presence Of con-
tagiOus diseases and maintain quaran-
tine. Above all, to use extreme care
in the process Of disinfectiOn. In this
the aim should be to prevent the pos
sibility of another case arising from
infected premises. 1t is entirely feas-
ible and should be accomplished in
every instance.
The records show this result to have
been attained in Salt Lake City dur
ing the past two years by the present
quarantine officers employed in the
health department.
While the principal methods for the
prevention o. contagious diseases have
beer discussed there are other factors
of great Importance which should not
be lost sight of. One of the conditions
necessary to the contracting of con-
tagious disease is the element Of sus-
ceptibility Of the individual Unless he
be susceptible, disease organisms can
NOT secure a fOothold in his system. In
other words, the invasion is resisted;
he is immune. Influences which lower
vitality. such as filthy surroundings,
bad ventilation, etc, directly induce
susceptibility. At the same time un-
sanitary conditions favor the growth
ana development Of any disease germs