The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-01-19

December 2S, 1909--Dr. Eugene II.
Porter, state commissioner of Health,
Albany, n. Y. Dear Sir.-Scarlet fe-
yer has been prevalent in Granville,
Washington county for a good part
of this year In April there were %
cases and nearly as many in May: it
continued till the close of the schools
and came on again when they opened
in the fall and still continues, ten
households being at this moment I'M
der quarantine with one or more pat
tents 1t is probable that there have
been one hundred cases Of scarlet fe-
yer in this village since the outbreak
began
Why it has persisted so long and
what the state department of health
can do to bring 1t to an end was the
subject of a conference yesterday
with the local board of health and
saw some cases with the health Off
Ger, Dr. Mckenzie
So far as the work of the village
board is concerned, the only criticism
would make is that the quarantine
period has not always been long
, enough. No one knows Just how
long scarlet fever subject continues
to be infectious but it is safe TO say
that close quarantine should be
maintained for not less than four
/. weeks, this to be shortened hy not
more than a week at the most when
r in the Judgment OF the health officer
, there has entirely ceased TO be any
, trace of disease in the throat and
0 nose and ears, where | think the chief
V course OF infection exists or of the
4 skin IN the form of scaling which can
a be in mild cases only. Besides this
Q close quarantine the subject should
L be kept from school and other gather
t ings Of young persons for five weeks
{ after subsistence OF the fever as stat
r ed on our leahet
o Then as TO disinfection of the pre-
Il misses, as | suggested to the board OF
health this had better be done after
81 the formula of our disinfection leaf
\ let; the formaldehyde candles which
| have been used no doubt are effective
but they are no better than the les.
expensive pemanganate method o.
generating formaldehyde which ough
10 be used freely. 1t is a common
experience that articles of clothing o.
things in drawers and boxes escap,
disinfection and the virus fingers OF
them for a long time This scarle
FEVER virus is long lived and IL take
the most scrupulous care to reacl
every infected thing where uuaran
tine is maintained in a dwelling. /
would be an investment In the inter
est of economy for every village lik
Granville to have an inexpensive cor
tagion disease hospital. When tn
time lost by quarantined families an,
all the other expense of such a Ion
epidemic as this is computed. it
easy to see that the cost of il is NO
inconsiderable
But the chief factor in the prolor
cation of this outbreak has been tn
failure of some to report the diseas,
1t is believed and is probable tina
some cases have been so light tha
they have not been recognized an
no physician has been seen; II is a
so probable that some people hay
mad good reason to suspect that
child had scarlet fever and frol
dread of quarantine have not repor
ed it. Sometimes and too often tn
physicians have been slow to reco
nize and report cases. 1t is my pc
sonal belief that scarlet fever is or
of the most difficult diseases to dia
nosticate absolutely when it is vel
mild. But, when it is prevalent. @
cry young person taken abruptly
with a fever and rapid pulse alor
with sore throat followed within
day or two by even the slightest re
ness and eruption on the chest an
face should be regarded as scarlet f
yer and isolated Immediately: espe
tally as they communicate the di
ease from its earliest commencement
II does not require medical skill
recognize these symptoms and ever
citizen ought to help the health boa
by declaring the existence Of SUE
and isolating them. In the intere
OF the public health would advi
the board to publish this and requi
parents to report such cases and