The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1916-04-19
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
ORDERS A QUARANTINE
Outbreak of Diphtheria to BE Com
batted BY Forbidding all Public
Gatherings.

/
pearance here a couple OF weeks ago,
but which was not fully determined
before it resulted in the death OF
/ two children, has occasioned a
panicky condition that will not be
allayed until it has been demonstrat-
ed that all danger of infection has
passed, and that the disease will be
confined to the family in which it
| nrst made its appearance.
Unfortunately this cannot be de-
termined for some days yet, as two
OF the elder children have been at
tending high school in Fallon and
three others, including the two ia
talities, have been in attendance at
/ the Union School south OF town.
However, the situation is fairly sat
isfactory at this writing.
The period of time elapsing be-
tween the isolation of the several
patients and the present gives rise
TO the belief that no further spread
is to be expected. And this despite
the fact that Homer Latin. the
deputy postmaster. followed his US
i ual routine in the local Office for
several days after being stricken.
the disease manifesting itself in his
i instance in very mild form.
The disease irst made its appear
anee here about two weeks ago
when Homer Latin, deputy post
master, called at the Office Of To-
cal physician, stating that he was
suffering from a sore throat and was
treated for tonsilitis. According to
the physicians statement there was
nothing to indicate diphthsria,
which has been unknown in this Vi
cinity for something like thirteen
years. At that time there was no
membranous condition and only a
couple OF small postules appearing
which were treated and the patient
advised to cease performing his du-
ties at the postoflice and go home.
The young man suffered no i'll ef-
fects from the attack and had not
been confined to his bed A young
er brother Sidney, shortly afterward
developed sore throat, but was like
wise able to be around and strongly
averse to confinement, and It was
not until last Wednesday evening
that the family physician was called
/ In his behalf. Ii was then that diph-
heria was suspected for the first
time and the child ordered to his
bed. The following morning he was
reported as desirous of arising, but
the doctor advised keeping him in
bed. About half hour later a hur-
ried call was made for the family
physician, who up his arriyel found
the child beyond medical aid and al
! though anti toxin was administered
at once he passed away ia few
minutes.
This paper is not an apologist for
J
anyone or any cause. unless fairness
is the compelling motive, yet this
same fairness compels the statement
that blame should not be attached
to anyone. To differentiate between
diphtheria in many Of its forms and
tonsilitis is a difficult matter for the
most expert diagnostician. Baeteri-
illogical examinations are the only
/ true tests, for the early diagnosis
of both diseases are frequently
identical insofar as physical appear
ances are concerned. In this con-
nection, city facilities are much to
be desired for they give an immedi-
ate return and make possible intel
ligent treatment of the respective
disorders
The State University has earned
/ in roundest measure local disap-
proval of the manner in which its
ARCHAEOLOGICAL laboratory has, or
rather hasn't handled the cultures
that have been forwarded from here.
Notwithstanding the urgency of the
situation, cultures sent from here
week ago have ocoasioned no re-
sponse from the wiseacres in the
Reno institution, who apparently
view the local situation without in
terest or concern. Their action in
the present crisis is not understand
able and certainly is not compatible
with fairness and deceney. Local
physicians are free in their criti-
cisms of the methods in vogue at the
State University and to the casual
observer it must seem that the CEN
sure is very we'll founded indeed.
The taxpayers pay generously for
service, which is not forthcoming
and this policy is so inimioal to pub
lie policy and public welfare that
retributive measures are certain to
be set afoot Somebody is to blame
for the dereliotion, which reflects in
the most vital sense upon the well
fare of Nevada communities in need
of ARCHAEOLOGICAL determinations.
That the disease may be kept Sc
curely within its present bounds, the
county board of health convened
Saturday and directed that all pub
lie gatherings whatsoever nature
be discontinued until later daie to