The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-07-22
SAY MUMPS ARE DANGEROUS
Protect Patient and Prevent Con-
tagion, Says the Georgia
State Board of Health.

Atlanta, Ga.-1ne udnSeI IL
mumps. or what is known to medical
science as epidemic parotltis, is not
so much in the disease itself as III
the complications which are liable 10
attend it. For this reason it is I'M
portant that the patient be caretuIIy
protected against possible compllc"'
tons and also that precautions pe
taken against spreading the cohtdS
ion. SAYS the Georgia State Board OF
Health.
The cause of humps has never been
definitely determined. Like the ma
jority of the diseases Of chlldhoou'
it is among the mysteries OF nleu4'
cine. But it is a we'll established fact
that the disease is contagious ana
can be transmitted from one person
to another.
While infants and adults are rare
" attacked by humps, they may nave
it, and care should be taken to aVolu
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 VI
known diseases. 1t was accurately
described by Hippocrates' the an
cient Greek physician who notea me
suppuration of the paroud gland' anu
the secondary Inflammation OF inc
sexual organs was even known "
him. 1t does not appear to De hinlteN
nv climate though the colder season
in the temperate zone is more favor
able to it, and it is noted tnat 1t 10
more frequent in prolonged colo anu
wet weather.
How the contaqion Is Spread
II has been demonstrated that the
contagion may be carried in various
WAYS. A person may contract mumps
nv being directly exposed to one nav
ing the disease: indirectly by coming
into contact with third person VINO
has been exposed to it, or by recelE-
uing the infection from some article
that has been used or handled by the
natient having the disease. The dang
err of contagion is not so great as Ia
the eruptive fevers, such as small
pox. scarlet fever, measles and the
like. nor is it ordinarily accompanied
nv such serious or dangerous compA-
cations. -,
Nevertheless there occur OCCASION
allv serious and sometimes very PAIN
ful complications such as sloughlng
of the parotid glands, painful sWell'
ing of the sexual glands followed oil,
ten nv an atrophy or shrivel1ng OIL
these organs. Besides these compll-
cations humps has been known TO
induce commissions, menlnglus' III
fammation of the joints and pancreas'
deafness. facial paralysis, brlghts
disease and in very occasional cases.
| loss of memory.
Because OF these possible compll-
cations it is well to avoid exposure
to the disease as far as possible
children with mumps should not only
he taken from school, but should De
isolated. and the same precautions
shouId he taken as in the case OF 9TH
or contagious diseases. While the
thorough disinfection of soiled BED
and body clothing, including hahaker-
chiefs and cloths used for the collec-
ton of discharges from the nose and
mouth, is regarded as important III
preventing the spread of the contag-
ion. fumigation 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
lor and lassitude; the child may be-
come irritable and complain OF ear
ache which will be followed by the
swelling of one side OF the face. TN