Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-01-22
DlPHrHeRlA EPIDEMIC AGAIN.
Eight New Cases Have Appeared With
In the Past Week.

| W INC Tdst WYNN
Diphtheria seems to have broken out
anew In Brattleboro within the past
week. eight cases having appeared
since last Friday. the largest number
In any one week thus far, The local
health authorities are making more
strenuous efforts than ever to quell the
epidemic, and steps are also being TAX
en- to ascertain the purity Of Brattle-
boro's water supply. Every child in
the public schools is given thorough
inspection every other day. and II there
are any diphtheretic symptoms the pu-
pill Is placed under temporary quar-
antine until cultures can be sent to
Burlington and examined. These meas
ures are taken because n number OF
parents have allowed their children to
be In school when they ought to be In
quarantine on account of having the
disease in very mild FORM Yester-
day Health officer Waterman sent to
the state laboratory at Burlington
specimens Of water from Crowelis res
ervoir and the western aqueduct. The
prevalence of disease during the past
winter and fall has led to the belief
that there might be something the
trouble with the water supply of the
town. and although this seems very un-
likely ii has been thought best to
settle the matter definitely. Brattle-
boro has always been noted for the
purity of its water, and II would be
general surprise If this were found con-
taminated.
The cases of diphtheria that have
appeared within the past seven days
are all of mild form. but they have
appeared in different parts Of the town
and are not confined to pupils of the
public schools. Harriet daughter Of
Mr.. and Mrs. j. T.. Mellen OF Walnut
street, Margaret, daughter OF Mr.. and
Mrs. j. L. Martin of Linden street and
Alice, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Il. ID.
Whitney of Green street, all came down
with the disease Saturday. Since then
the following persons have been taken
i'll: the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. A.
j. Morris, Birge street, Winfred Met
calf who boards at VIII Mellens on
Elliot street. daughter of Luther
Plummer. who lives at n. L. Staples's
on Washington street the daughter of
Mrs. Annie Scudder, 81 Canal street,
and Mrs. l. l.. Moore whose home is
on Frost street. In addition to these
there are several cases reported last
week.
Since last fall over 100 cases of the
disease have been reported TO Health
officer Waterman This means a big
bin for the village to pay, but II the
epidemic can be stamped out with no
more loss of life than has occurred al
ready the cost win not be counted.
Concerning the subject of collection
and delivery of mall matter from and /
to families where cases of diphtheria 1
and scarlet fever exist. section 626 of I
the Postal Laws and Regulations says I
"A postmaster should refuse TO re-
,eive into his office mail matter brought {
10 1t by persons who are inmates of, or
from houses containing
eases of contagious diseases, when or
lered to do so by a board of health. or
other local authority having jurisdic-
ion Of matters affecting the public
health. If there be no such organ2a-
ion or official, the postmaster should
De governed by the advice Of one or
more reputable physicians. Mail matter
arriving at an office addressed to the
inmates of such houses may be sent to
hem by the hands of some responsible
person known TO the postmaster"