The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1913-06-27
MUMPSARES SERIOUS
WHEN CMPCOL|ATED
Protect Patient and Prevent Con.
tagiOn, Says the Georgia
State Board of Health.

Atlanta, Ga.-The danger in
mumps, or what is known to medical
science as epidemic parotitis, is not
so much in the disease itself as in
the complications which are liable to
attend it. For this reason it is I'M
portant that the patient be carefully
protected against possible complica-
| tions, and also that precautions be
taken against spreading the contag-
ion, says the Georgia State Board of
Health.
The cause Of mumps has never been
definitely determined. Like the ma
tority of the diseases OF childhood,
! 1t Is among the mysteries OF meoF
cine. But 1t Is we'll established fact
that the disease Is contagious and
can be transmitted from one person
to another. 3'
While infants and adults are rare
ly attacked by mumps, they may have
| 1t, and care should be taken to avoid
the contagion. The greatest period of
of liability to the disease Is from
four to fifteen years OF age.
Mumps is one of the Oldest of
known diseases 1t was accurately
described by Hippocrates, the an
cient Greek physician who noted the
suppuration of the parotld gland, and
| the secondary Inflammation or the
sexual organs was even known to
him. 1t does not appear to be limited
oh thn nnld0r
in the temperate zone is more favor
+ able to it, and it is noted that 1t Is
more frequent in prolonged cold ANA
wet weather.
How the Contagion Is Spread.
| 1t has been demonstrated that the
contagion may be carried in various
ways. A person may contract humps
by being directly exposed to eae haV-
ing the disease: indirectly by coming
into contact with a third person who
has been exposed to 1t, or by recelV-
uing the infection from some article
that has been used or handled by the
patient having the disease. The dang
er of contagion Is not so great as In
the eruptiye fevers, such as small
pox, scarlet fever, measles and the
like, nor Is 1t ordinarily accompanied
by such serious or dangerous ccmpli-
cations.
Nevertheless there occur occasion
ally serious and sometimes very pain
full complication such as sloughing
OF the parotid glands, painful swell
| ing of the sexual glands followed Of
ten by an atrophy or shriveling OFT
these organs. Besides these compi-
cations mumps has been known to
| induce convulsions, meningitis, In
fammation of the joints and pancreas.
deafness, facial paralysis, brights
disease and in very occasional cases,
, loss of memory.
Because OF these possible compl.
/ cations it is we'll to avoid exposure
to the disease as far as possible
Children with mumps should not only
be taken from school, but should be
; isolate and the same precautions
should be taken as in the case of 9TH
er contagious diseases. While the
thorough disiufection of soiled bed
and body clothing, including handker-
chiefs and cloths used for the colleG-
tion of discharges from the nose and
mouth, is regarded as important in
preventing the spread of the contag
ion, fumigatiou OF the room following
recovery of the patient is not regard
ed as essential.
! The Symptoms of Mumps.
In an attack Of mumps loss of &C
tivity is noted, accompanied by pal
Tor and lassitude: the child may be-
come irritable and complain Of ear
swelling of one side of the face. I'm
biateraI attack both sides become
swOlen). Fever may develop, mildly
at first, and going sometimes as high
as 1O4. Even higher temperatures
have been noted. The swelling be-
comes CONSPICUOUS from the ear
, down., the skin, pale, glistening,
AMI tense: the tongue coated. Chew
ing becomes d painful process; dit
ticulty in ealing for the mouth may
cause bad smelling breath. Nausea
and vomiting are often noted
The time which elapsas between
{ exposure and development of the
disease probably averages little
more than two weeks. Conragion is
possible during the entire course OF
the attack and also several days at.
ter the swelling OF the parotid glands
has disappeared, The patient should
| be isolated. therefore. for three weeks
! after the beginning OF the symptoms
or for ten days after the swelling has
subsidized.
There are two parotid glands, one
on either side of the face. Just in
front OF and extending slightly below
the ear. Both Of these glands are
usually involved. the patient having
what is sometimes called 'doubie
mumps or mumps on both sides. The
| swelling Is usually at its height by
| the end of the third day. 1t NAV az.
tend down into the tissues of the
neck. After remaining stationary for
J two or three DAYS the SwSI,;,o