The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-05-15
SCARLET FEVER SCARE.
Information Regarding the Disease
and Measures For Its
Suppression.
Communicated.

epidemic, | deem a brief statement re.
garding present conditions, the prob.
ability and danger of further infec-
ton. the difficulties Of absolute guar.
%antine, pertinent at this time.
Scarlet fever, scarlet rash and
s%carlatina, are all synonyms for the
same disease, which is due TO the
presence in the body Of a specific
organism. The malady itself presents
a greater variety Of symptoms and a
wider departure from the typical
course than any other exauthema
eruptive fever.
The period of incubation is from
six hours to twenty.one days, though
in the great majority Of cases it may
be put down at from two to six days.
The period OF Invasion is usually from
twelve to twenty.four hours, that is
from the time when the first symptoms
are noticed until the rash appears,
though the rash may be and freq uent.
ly is the fret symptom.
One attack usually affords immun.
ity from the disease, though there are
quite frequent exceptions. Suscepti.
bility is most marked between the age
of two and ten years and rapidly de.
creases after that age. About five per
cent. of adult persons not immune by
reason of previous attack are liable.
while fifty per cent. of children ex.
posed are stricken.
All authorities agree that there is a
special predisposltion among some
families and individuals to the dis.
ease. Frequently a whole family, in
Guiding parents. are taken down at
once from one exposure. While one
member of another family Of children
may be the only one to suffer.
Some epidemics may be SO mild as
to create doubt regarding the true
identity of the disease, and again the
mildest form may convey the disease
in it's most malignant character.
More than ordinary interest seems
to center upon the period Of inocula.
bility. All authorities agree that
scarlet fever may be communicated as
long as any morbid phenomena at
tributable to the disease exist. That
is. SO long as any peeling of the skin,
which lasts from three to eight weeks,
or any discharge from the a or nose
due to the disease. or any infamma.
finn nf orv bind This ~afa,s ~ ~,
person himself and no. to clothing,
bedding, furniture, draperies, which
may contain and convey the disease
an indefinite length of time unless
thoroughly disinfected.
And now a wore about diSinfecting.
No matter how thoroughly you may
fumigate, If you have 20. waited until
the last bit of epidermis which will
separated has peeled OFF: until ali dis
charges have disappeared and all in
tlammation has subsidized, your labor
will be in vain. The patient will re.
infect the house in which he is living
and you are still liable to infect my
one who may be susceptible.
The manner in which the disease is
conveyed is: First through the patient
himself. Second by the oom in which
he is confined with clothing. bedding,
furniture, etc. Third, through at
tendants by reason of the c%ontagiou
clinging to their clothing. However,
this source of infection may be re.
duced to a minimum by frequent bath
ing and a change of clothes. If 8
thorough bath and a complete change
of all clothing were strictly adhered
to, the probabilities Of infection from
this source would be nil. AS to the
probable outcome 10 accomplished
cases of scarlet fever, j, is favorable
in nearly every case.
A number OF persons have asked me
If there is any medicinal measures tha,
prevent scarlet fever, or something to
keep the air pure 10 The dwelling aud
render i. less liable to become infected
| have answered that there is no rem.
edy known that will have the slignte.,
influence os d preventive. mere l. nc
substance known that by evaporation
in a oom will injure a m,crobe or
render the air immune, tina. would no,
at the same time poison or asphyxiate
any human being who might be pres.
ent in the 0 All such remedies
are poisons and are bound 70 lower
the vitality of persons breathing them,
in exact proportion 10 the atnoan, in.
hailed, and all such dope i. rank
swindle and no matter VIII a. the label
is must be classed among the fake.
and frauds that have ever preyed upon
the credulity bego,,en by human -ut.
fering and affection.
The source of Infection in ali con.
taglous diseases must always remain
a matter of gravest public concern az
the knowledge of its origin will usual.
ly be q significant factor in it's promp,