Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-11-20
SCHOOLS CLOSED TUESDAY
ON ACCOUNT OF plPHTHERiA
AND SCARLET FEVER.
Will Open Monday, Nov. 3o-Four New
Cases Of Diphtheria and Four Of
Scarlet Fever Reported This Week.
Advice From Dr.. HoIton.

on account of the increase of scar
let fever and diphtheria last week and
because of the number of pupils that
have been exposed to the different dis
eases the schools in District No. 2
were closed Tuesday until Monday
Nov. 30. This will simply mean a
longer Thanksgiving vacation and a
more abbreviated recess at Christmas
time. but the change Is likely to do
much toward stopping the epidemic
which has been gradually growing for
the past several weeks. Up to the
present time Ia cases OF scarlet fever
and 20 of diphtheria have been re-
ported to Health officer Waterman al
though there has been but one death
from either of the diseases. Most
of the cases have been of mild form,
responding readily to treatment.
Four new cases of scarlet fever and
four of diphtheria have been reported
since last Friday and are now under
quarantine. The two year old son of
Mr.. and Mrs, w. A. Gilbert developed
very mild case of scarlet fever Fri
day. Ralph, young son of Mr.. and
Mrs. w. +. Root, came down with the
same disease Saturday, undoubtedly
having II from MS sister
who is just recovering. on Sunday
two cases OF scarlet fever were re-
ported. the patients being Miss May
Goodhue who lives at the home of her
sister Mrs. A. f. Schwenk on Common
street, and Gretchen, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Lyman Goldsmith of Clark
street. Ellen Sherman who lives with
her aunt on Cedar street came down
with diphtheria Saturday, as did also
one of the children of Mr.. and Mrs. C.
a. Wheaton who live on Park street
There are two cases OF diphtheria in
the family OF Daniel Harris of West
Brattleboro, Mrs. Harris and a boy who
lives there being III with it. The case
of Mrs. Harris is the most severe that
has yet come TO the attention of the
health authorities The quarantine
was raised Wednesday from the home
OF Mr.. and Mrs William Brockington.
one of whose daughters had mild at
tack of diphtheria
Dr. Holtons View of the Situation.
At the present time there is not any
occasion for alarm further than 1t is
always disturbing to have either of
these diseases I'm a community At
the close of last week there We're five
cases Of diphtheria and seven of scar
let fever, there has been reported this
week four cases of diphtheria and none
of scarlet fever All cases reported
are mild and are promptly quaran-
tined. The only danger of their eX-
tension is in unrecognized or unreport-
ed cases. There undoubtedly have
been such cases which have caused
their extension. At the present time
all cases of sore throat should be re-
ported and isolated until cultures are |
taken and examined In order that 1t
may be definitely determined whether
they are mild cases of dphtheria and 4
likely to spread the disease. The in +
famed mucous membrane OF the /
throat affords most excellent bed up |
on which the germs Of diphtheria may 7
develop The following is the statute 1
relating 10 the reporting of cases of I
diseases:
Sec. II. The head OF a family in
whose home there occurs a case of
infectious or contagious disease dang
arous TO the public health shall imme-
iiately give notice 10 the health officer
II the town or city In which he lives.
\ physician who knows or suspects
hat person whom he has been called
% attend. is sick or has died of a /
disease dangerous TO the
public health, shall AT once quarantine
md report to the health officer the
place where such case exists, the name /
legree OF virulence thereto as may be /
necessary for the health officer to
make examination and act in the prem
SEES If the head of a family or nby-