Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-02
THE SPREAD or DISEASE.


Beatty, secretary Of the State Bourd
Of Health. as to the correctness Of the
statement that more people have died in
Utah from vaccination than from
smallpox The query vas accompanied
by the intlmation that the assertion
was made b. The Deseret News We
win say at once and emphatlcally that
the Deseret News has made no such a
statement. and further that we do not
believe in the story This paper has
asserted that there have been more
deaths In Utah from dlphtheria and
ficm scarlet fever than from smallpox,
and even the exaggerated reports as
TO the latter viii bear us out in this
computation,
The two diseases We have mention
ed as causing the greater fatality. are
really more to be dreaded than the
other variola. Il Is true, Is a loath-
same disorder especially in rs yirulent
form. Cases Of the latter type have
been comparatively rare In this re-
glor. particularly during the last few
years when smallpox was thought TO be
nearly epidemic. The after effects OF
diph,heria and scarlet fever are usuil.
~ far worse than those from the mild
form Of variolold that has been suf-
fered here and with which number Of
patients are now afflicted
In all these diseases there is danger
that contagion win not only spread
them but increase their yirulence.
yarloloid so mild that It occasions bu'
little inconvenience, when impaired
to a person In the right condition for
It's development may bloom out into
continent variola and result fatally It
Is the same with both scarlet fever aud
dlphtheria as to this process Of de-
velopment. And the converse Is also
true on this proposition The degree
o. yirulence depends largely upon the
condition Of the patient on contracting
the disorder.
The suppression and II possible the
extinction OF such diseases should en-
gage the serious attention Of the people
generally. Experience has demonstrate
ed beyond fair question that they can
be reduced to minimum, II proper
precautions and regulations are OBJ
served. Sanitation and isolation are
the great and essential obseryances.
Sanitary measures include cleanliness
Of person, home and surroundings pro-
per ventilation; dlsnfection and des-
tructlon OF waste matter. Isolation i'm
plies the separation Of the afflicted
from other persons except the nurse
and the physician, and the observance
Of strict quarantine regulations.
carelessness. Indifference and gross
disregard OF the public health, exhibited
by hosts OF the people Of Utah, are
really criminal in character and alarm
ing In their prevalence They are the
result chiefly Of ignorance This is the
most charitable view to take Of the
matter A general and systematic course
81 instruction should be entered upon in
every city, town and settlement OF this
state, until the subject is understood
by the people generally, and measures
are adopted, everywhere, to enforce the
regulations necessary to prevent the
spread Of infection.
The reluctance TO report to the health
officers cases Of these diseases, ought
10 be disslpated In view Of their spread
and their danger to the public. Every
patient should be separated as per-
fectly as possible from contact with the
family All persons who have been ex-
posed to infection should be quaran-
tined. Doctors ana nurses ought not
10 go from the sick chamber and min
gle with the public, until their clothing
has been thoroughly dlslnfeoted. un-
less It has been completely covered
during the visit with apparel prepared
for the purpose. Persons who are i'm
mune from the disease can carry II to
Others IN the clothing they wear when
IN contact with the afflicted also IN the
heir or the beard unless Il Is fully dis
Infected. Whatever may be argued as
to the virtues Of vaccine virus, let Il
be Remembered that clothing is not vac
cinated And further that In dnh.
liberia and scarlet fever cases no all
legged preventive lymphs are used.
either on the person or the apparel
The enforcement Of quarantine reeu-
lstions by county and city authorities.
ought to suggest the necessity Of relief
to poor peop;4 who are confined to their
homes b. Law. They should not be LEFT
to suffer for want OF food. fuel. or mod
icine. Too often this is overlooked.
They are not permitted TO so out and
hunt up friends or means Of susten-
osco, therefore the rules which shut
them NJ shosld also provide for neces-
saries which they have hot the money
or opportunity to obtain.
pislnfecilon should Immediately fol-
low quarantine Il should not be put
of 20 some stated day In the year.
Whenever CONTAGIOUS disease is mani.
Tested, dislnfectants should be used
thoroughly and as directed by health
boards and persons who understand
theIr application and eTeots, To az one
lay annually for this work we fear
vcule do more harm than good by Gre
atlng the impression that It's obsery-
snce would be all that the law required.
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