The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-05-03
CARE OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever and Measles
and Their Treatment

In lecture at the Harvard Medca
school recently DR.. j. II. McColl0m il
speaking on Points Concerning Nursing
in Cases Of Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever anC
Measles, said:
There is no such disease as mem
brancous Group, in distinction from diph
liberia. The treatment of the disease pre-
yious to the advent Of anti-toXin was un
satisfactory. About 80 per cent. of case,
were fatal up to 1894, but the death rate
at the Boston City hospital, which aver
aged 80 per cent. from lSSS to 1894, aver
aged but II per cent. from 1895 to 1906
and now averages S,23 per cent. Last
year the mortality rate, per 10000 of pop
( ulation, was hut 4.46 The idea that anti
/ toxin had a tendency to provoke heart
weakness, paralysis or albWminaria was
I disputed, as all these had been long recog.
ni2ed as likely features attending attacks
of diphthera,
Patients treated at home should be
isolated in the upper part of the house.
preferably, and all hangings, carpets and
furniture not absolutely necessary should
be removed. In schools medical inspection
resulting in the exclusion of all pupils
suffering from slight attacks of diphthera
would result in great diminution of the
disease in this community. Food for pa
lltulS Sllbulu ne HDWIlsillUE, DuL lllu-
dicous attempts to induce them to take
food at short intervals has resulted in
many deaths. The proper treatment of
cases was then gone into at some length.
Before the advent of ant-toXin 90 per
cent. OF cases of laryngeal diphthera re-
quired operative interference. This has
now sunk to % per cent. If municipal
ties would establish sanitary wash houses
the problem of proper disinfection follow
ing diphtheria would be greatly simpli-
fed. Formaldehyde should not be used
while the patient is still in the room
Scarlet fever appeared in the United
States in 1895. The ratio of mortality per
10000 of population was very high up to
1876, since then has been markedly lower
Cities suffer more than rural districts,
and tenement houses are dangerous fac
tors in the spread of the disease.
Public schools are necessarily response
bic for much contagion. As is the case
in diphtheria, scarlet fever cases show
marked decrease in July and August, the
vacation seasons. Meteorological condi- |
tons have no particular influence, except
The Importance of medical in |
spection in schools was here again EN-.
phasized by Mr.. McCollom. The recog-
nized types of the fever were described |
and isolation was cited as necessary to be |
upon, as neither vaccination nor |
ti-toxin are available. Scarlet fever is
much more infectious than diphtheria |
Routine practice in the treatment of any
disease is not to be avoided. The fea-
-ures must be treated as they arise.
Measles were first described in 1929 by
Aaron, a physician of Alexandria They
we're early common in Europe, Asia and
South America, and came to North Amer
ca with the earliest settlers. They reach
d Oregon in 1929, California in IS45 ana
hence carried to Australia and England.
The idea that an attack in the case of
IN adult is necessarily worse than in the
,ase of child is erroneous. A mans
'ase may be slight, as child's may be
evere. The mortality in this country
las been less than abroad: for instance,
hat in Glasgow in 1897 being s per TO-.
100 population, while in Boston it was
tut 80.
The complication of measles and diph.
IBERIA is frequent When measles exist
he time honored treatment, involving
lraughts of saffron tea, hot rooms. hot
water bags and superfuous bed clothing
5 all wrong, and should be avoided. -