The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-10-15
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% PUBLIC HEALTH q
:: DEPARTMENT 3:
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Conducted by
DR.. ]. G. MAHR
State Commissioner Of Health

At the presen time diphtheria and
scarlet fever are both prevailing in
epidemic form in a number of locali-
ties in Oklahoma. Both of these dis
eases are subject to quarantine. Pa
tients should be isolated and kept so
as not to endanger any Other uer-
son. With scarlet fever we have a
very troublesome disease to contend
with. 1t is difficult to prevent its
spread for the reason that it fre-
quently appears in very light form
and it is not unusual where several
children in one family are sick with
this disease, for it TO be very severe
with one and so mild with the other
members of the family as to cause
no uneasiness. Then, too, the objec-
tion on the part of many to quaran-
tine, or the placarding of homes,
causes them to endeavor to evade
these regulations and where the men,
bers of the family are not sufficient
ly sick to demand the attention of
physician they call it scarlet rash
and permit the children to attend
school, visit neighbors and run err
rands.
Now the board of health requires
that Rose rash, or any other kind
nf racb
ing at the same that that scarlet
fever is, should be treated, as far as
the public is concerned, the same as
scarlet fever. No one should re
sist or resent these regulations, for
every family that has a member i'll
with scarlet fever diphtheria or any
other contagious disease, is entitled
to the sympathy and intelligent help
of the community. At the same time
the stricken family should realize
fully that simply good citizenship
calls upon its members to do every
thing in their power to prevent the
spread of the contagion to neighbors.
Ordinary neighborliness demands that
such a family keep its members away
from others and prevent outsides from
coming in contact with the infection
causing disease The milk dealer who
learns of case of scarlet fever or
diphtheria in a family should keep
the bottles from that house separate
from the others and make certain they
are very carefully sterilized before
they are again used for milk. No
milk man should sell milk when there
is case of scarlet fever, diphtheria or
typhoid fever upon his premises or
among those who are working for
him. No doctor should visit a case
of diphtheria or scarlet fever without
clothing himself in a contagious and
infections disease gown, and use
every precaution possible to prevent
carrying the contagion to another pa
tient. No one engaged in ursing a
diphtheria or scarlet fever patient,
should leave the premises unless they
have thoroughly disinfected them
selves and clothed themselves in gar
ments that have not been exposed to |
the contagion. Neither should they |
ever go for the milk.
No quarantine should be raised for
scarlet fever or diphtheria until after
the doctor is thoroughly satisfied that |
there is no danger in the quarantine
being released, and should not then
be released until the county health Of
fcer or city health officer is notified
and permission is obtained. No child
should be permitted to attend school
when member of the family is sick
With either of these diseases.
Followin an agttack of diphtheria or
scarlet fever the house should be
thoroughly fumigated and disinfected
before the members of the family
ONE in contact wit htheir neighbors
n permit their neighbors to visit their
When diphtheria or scarlet fever are
REVEALING in epidemic form in any
ommunity, every case of sore throat.
% matter how simple, should be
iewed with suspicion.