El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-20
SANITARY CODE URGED FOR E. PASO
TOPREVENT SPREAD Of CONTAGION
Dr. J. W. Tappan Tells County Medical Society Prompt
Notification of Infectious Quarantinabe Diseases Is
Highly Important and Should Have Special Pro
vision in the Code; Measles Cause Many Deaths.

I'll PASO should have a sanitary
code. carefully worked out with
II special provision made for the
prompt notification TO the health au-
thorities Of all infectious qlarantinable
diseases
This is the suggestion made by DR..
j. W. Tappan Of II Paso to the County
Medical society. DR.. Tappan said the
sanitary code should provide for the
notification Of tuberculosis, typhoid
fever. streptocclc, sore throat opthal-
mia neonatorum and pellagra as well
as the grayer quarantinable diseases
In a paper read before the FL Paso
County Medical society DIT. Tappan
said: a..
United states and Canada, hospitaliza-
ton of infectious Quarantinable as
eases is now looked upon with dlsIa-
vor. 1t may be, with better methods
Of control. the contagious hospital VIII
eventually disappear, but at present
there must be some such institution III
each community TO care Tor thOse cases
i'm which the necessary precautions Tor
the protection Of the public can not %
will not be observed.
Deaths from Measles 10000 ear.
while in most communities the only
disease thus cared for is smallpox, there
is no doubt that in many instances
scarlet fever and diphtheria might'
with advantage to the public, be lso-
lated with the same degree OF care:
Measles. the most contagious OF all OF
the socalled minor infectious diseases
Is Of so short a period Of necessity Tor
quarantine that IL can not well be in
Guided with scarlet fever and dtph-
iberia in such n disposition. II Is
however, as dangerous in its results
as the others. Ten thousand deaths a
wear in the United States from measles
is far too great a mortality and sta
tistics show IL 10 bear a distinct rela-
ton to tuberculosis. The methods Tor
its control are simple but its early
recognition is essential; Tor the quar-
antine Of measles should begin with
the onset of the disease, four or flVo
davs before the rash appears and be
riTidly enforced until the disappear
ance OF the fever
"Whooping cough, difficult in its
early diagnosis, is much neglected
infectious disease which has very
high mortality. In July and August,
last year, there were 81 deaths from
this disease in Texas. When compared
with scarlet fever, diphtheria and
measles, the high mortality rate Is ap-
parent During July and August, 1919,
the deaths from these four diseases IN
Texas was as follows;
Measles .-....-..---.. -...-...-. .
Scarlet fever ...-........-.....-.
Whooping cough .....-..-.--.-.-.'.5 81
Diphtheria -.--..------.---. go. 80. 90
This record. mind you, for the two
summer months Of July and August!
Notification should BE Prompt.
ON any case Of contagious disease.
notification should be prompt Tne
penalties for failure to notify should
he rigidly enforced by the health de-
partment II should be the doctors
duty 10 Instruct the family fully as 70
the nature Of the disease and the meth
DDS in force 20 prevent its spread.
In cases OF diphtheria, scarlet fever
or streptOcoccic sore throat no milk
bottles should leave the premises until
the termination OF quarantine.
TN regard to the actual management
OF the case. that, OF course, will be
with the family physician. If we re-
member that II is now thought that
the nose and throat secretions OF per-
sons suffering from diphtheria, scarlet
fever and measles Gas wen as other
communicable diseases) are the impOr-
tant factors in their spread, and that
II thorough isolation is practiced ana
all articles used in the sick room are
disinfected (best by boiling) before
leaving the room there will be little
danger in allowing other members Of
the family their liberty. OF course,
dogs, cats and other pets are to be e.
cluded from the sick room.
should Notify Librarian.
1.-THE physician in charge Of the case
should also see that contacts are prop
erly cared for. No person living in
the house where diphtheria. scarlet
fever or streptocOccic sore throat Is
auarantined should teach school or
work about a dairy or handle milk
bottles in any way. Books from the
public library should not enter a house
80 quarantined, and the librarian should
he notified by the health department
OF the location OF every house in which