Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-03
QUARANTINE LAW
MAKES BIG CHANGE
Alters Periods of Quarantine For
a Number of Diseases and
Makes Regulations

Sweeping changes in State laws gov
erning quarantines and the method OF
| reporting diseases classed as con-
tagious and infectious are provided in
the Walsh bill. just signed by the Gov
ernor. The bill is a codification of the
quarantine laws in the light of expert
ence of State officials and is the most
comprehensive ever passed in the
| State.
Under the provisions of the act
every teacher, principal. superintend-
ent or other person in charge of
| public, private. parochial. Sunday or
other school will be required to report
to the health officer of city, borough
or township, as the case may be, any
unusual rash. skin eruption, sore
throat, symptoms of whooping cough
or any disease of the eye noticed in
any child or person attending such
school, shall Immediately exclude such
child or other person from schools
pending the action of the health au-
thorities and shall report such fact to
the health officer of the city, borough
or township, as the case may be.
This act also provides for a reduc-
tion OF the quarantine period for
measles, German measles. mumps and
chickenpoX to sixteen days If the at
tending physician so requests and GER
ti1es to the recovery of the person so
afflicted. The quarantine period for
theSe diseases heretofore mas peen
twenty-one days.
In discussing the provisions of this
new law DR.. Samuel G. Dixon, Com
missioner of Health. said:
THE provision requiring school ex-
clusion and the reporting to the health
officer of skin eruptions, sore throat,
symptoms of whooping cough and dis
eases of the eye will unquestionably
be of great assistance to the health
authorities in reducing the number of
the communicable diseases to which
children are susceptible. Unfotu-
nately, in many cases diphtheria in
its early stages goes unrecognized by
parents who do not appreciate the
danger of what appears to be a simple
sore throat. The fact that children
are excluded from school will cause
them to bring the matter to the atten-
ticn of their family physician and in
this way many cases OF diphtheria in
the incipient stage will receive treat
ment whic hotherwise would go until
the little patients had reached much
more dangerous stage of the disease.
There are several diseases in which
skin eruptions appear. Children with
mild cases often attend school and in
feet others who have the disease in
more virulent form. AS the asso-
citation in school is the means by which
the majority of children contract COM
safeguards, it is hoped, will aid in
lessening the number of cases and
further reducing the death rate
In addition to the provisions above
mentioned the bill provides that those
residing on premises quarantined for
scarlet fever, measles. German measles,
mumps and chickenpox who have had
the particular disease for which the
quarantine has been established. when
official records show that they have
had It, or where the attending ply
sician certifies to personal attendance
during such disease, may be per-
mitted to remove to other premises
occupied by adults and children hav-
ing had the particular affection and
resume school attendance the day after
such removal. Children removed from
premises auarantined for any of these
diseases who have not themselves had
the particular affection may only be
removed to homes occupied exclusively
by adults and may, fourteen days after
such removal. he readmitted to school.
Pupils residing on premises quaran-
tined for diphtheria, not contracting
the disease. if immunized with diph-
liberia antitoXin. may be removed to
other premises occupied only by adults
and may re-enter school five days
after such removal.
In all instances removal from prem
ises takes place as heretofore with the
consent of the health authorities and
after taking a disinfecting bath and
putting on disnfected clothing.
The provisions of this bill which
permit school attendance under GER
tain restrictions of children who have
already had the disease mentioned will
save thousands of days of school at
tendance to children throughout Penn
sylvania.