Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-02

killing the germs in fecal matter and other
discharges before they leave the sick ROOM
setting forth simple but effective ways OF
household disinfection.
Since smallpox has appeared in mild form
In the State it is necessary to be on the
alert for the report OF chicken pok among
ADULTS, as such a case may be pronounced
chicken pox and then turn out to be small
pox and spread this dread disease through.
a whole community before 1t can be-
checked. Several epldemlcs of smallpox
were traced to this error in diagnosis.
The epidemics OF mea sizes throughout the
state have required a great deal of atten-
ton. The popular idea that measles is a
trifiing affection Is erroneous, for the dis
ease, together with It's sequelae. causes
more deaths in childhood and adolescence
than scarlet fever The rules and regula-
ions OF the new Department of Health
require that premises upon which there Ii
case OF measles shall be placarded. the
patient Isolated, and, together with those
exposed, excluded from school for a period
of twenty-one days from the date OF onset
and be readmitted to school only on the
certihcate OF the physician attestins to
recovery and freedom from contaglon.
/ The medical inspector makes particular
note of the occupation of the wage Garner
! in every household where there is a con-
tagious disease. He may be a milkman,
! Tor Instance, who himself through lack of
proper precautions is injecting the milk
which he is supplying to hundreds Of
people.
Mild cases of smallpox. diphtheria or
scarlet fever occasionally break. quaran-
tine, In such cases the patients must be
located with all possible haste, quaran-
\ tined and placed under guard IL necessary
/ The railroad company must be at once no
tined and the car In which the person
with the contagious disease travelled taken
on the line and thoroughly disinfected.
POWER OF THE COMMISSIONER.
The local boards OF health in borouRbs
and cities ire not interfered with but the
commissioner frequently sends his county
medical inspectors to advise with local
! boards In the case of an outbreak or n
! threatened outbreak OF disease The health
officers of the local boards are supnlied
with literature giving Instructions for the
\ most enective means of controlling con-
/ tagious diseases and methods of dsinfec-
4 ton.
1 Although many petty complaints roach
! the department, none are too small 10 re
| ceive attention. However, where II Is
| matter which the local boards of beaItb
i should remedy the Commissioner endeay-
ors to have the evil remeded through this
4 Board. ''''
/ The whole country will watch with in
terest the work of the Pennsylvania Com
missioner of Health to reclaim the waters
of that State 20 their virgin purity. For
II Su' 'lS SuSaiis VI Tue State nave been
| polluted with raw sewage. and conse-
quently the death rate from typhoid fever
has heen enormous and appalling
4 Under a recent legislative act every mn
nicipslity which desires to extend its
sewerage system must first obtain the per-
i init from the Commissioner of Health and
every water company which desires to use
a new source of supply must secure a per-
mt from the Commissioner II will be
! the work OF years to bring about the SAINT
I tary disposal of sewage in all the munich