The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1915-04-09
Child Destroyer

The person who knows, looks up
on measles with fear in his heart,
and we'll he may.
Persons who don't know, and
their name is legion, go laundering
on in their careless, unthinking, in
different way and daily our children
are paying the price in precious
lives.
To the health officer alive to the
facts and awake to his responsible
ties there is nothing more perplex-
ing and little that appears to be
more in need of correction than the
present day almost universal in
difference to measles.
AS a destroyer of child life mea-
sles holds position very close to
the top of the list. In Idaho in
1913 upwards of ten times as many
little graves were dug on account
Of this disease, as were dug on
account of that terribly dreaded
disease, smallpox, and smallpox was
quite prevalent throughout the
State, too, some 884 cases being re-
ported. 1t is very doubtful wheth-
er these reported deaths represent
even a small percentage of those
actually due to measles as many of
these deaths are reputed to be due
to pneumonia.
In Idaho at the present time there
are thousands of cases of measles
and numbers of deaths are occurring.
The widespread prevalence of the
disease is in largest measure due to
improper handling of the cases, to
the looseness of quarantine, and is
in direct proportion to the ignor-
ance, carelessness, indifference or
lawlessness of parents and attend
ants.
Measles is a wholly unnecessary
disease and no one should have it.
To wilfully expose child to it is
nothing short of criminal and tC
permit child to go about spread.
ing the infection among other chill
dren is, indeed, quite as serious an
offense.
The suppression of measles is 6
matter of strict isolation Of the in
fection bearer.
The State Board of Health, be-
lieving that the time has arrived tt
clamp down the lid on measles, ha.
recently formulated and promulga
ted rules of quarantine for measles
which must be observed Throughout
) the State of Idaho.
The new State rules governing
: measles, briefly stated, are a
; follows:
l. All cases Of measles must b.
Immediately reported to the loca
health authorities.
= 2. The front and rear entrance
of the the premises must be plac
, arded with red warning card.
e 3. The patient must be isolate
r for at least IA days after the begin
e ming of the disease, or until al
: infectious discharges have ceased
Visitors are prohibited. Suscept
t BILE children of the family most b
confined to the premises, but ma
y be permitted the freedom of an e1
v closed yard in which they do nc
IS come in contact with other chil(
n ren.
e 4. The patient must be exclude
y. from the schools and places of pul
y lie gathering for at least thre
S weeks from the onset of the diseas
e Susceptible children of the fami
IS must be excluded for at least ]
d days from date of last exposure.
t. 5. The sale of milk and foe
# stuffs from infected premises
.e prohibited.
lie 6. Before isolation is raised tt
lie patient must be given a disinfec
N ing bath and complete change
h clothing must be made.
it 7. Public funerals are prohibite
lp However, adults and non-suscer
,k ible children may follow the r
Ip mains to the grave provided tn
I'd do not enter the carriages occupi
O. by persons who have been in t
S. infected building.