The Meeker herald., 1917-02-24
The Scarlet Fever Scare

1t had been ruinored about for some
weeks that scarlet fever existed In
this community. With view to
proper state authority investigation
of the matter, the town council COM
municated with the state health de-
partment, and DR.. J. w. Morgan, of
the state board of health, responded,
arriving here last Thursday evening.
DIR. Morgan Immediately started on
his investigations. A meeting Of the
council was held last Friday night,
and the doctor appeared before that
body. He reported that he had found
several cases in the town and adja-
cent territory, all in mild form. He
gave it as his opinion that an epidem-
ic might break out at any time, and
be taken at once to combat any such
happening.
1t was the sense Of the meeting that
n joint meeting of the town council,
county commissioners, school board
of district No. |, and the county high
school board be called for Monday
afternoon, at which time concerted
action should be taken looking to the
afe-guarding of the public health.
This meeting was held rs scheduled,
and, in addition to the county, town
and district officials mentioned, a
number of citizens were present DIR.
Nor,rop ,yho ko1 ro,noinod ovor for
this meeting, was present, and was
called upon for his views. He said,
in part, that it was our good
luck that nothing serious had
happened; but that the cases he
had examined were scarlet fever,
and, though in a mild form, the dan
ger Of virulent outbreak was liable
to happen, and he urged that meas
ures should be taken to prevent such
a calamity.
The result of the various meetings
was the employment of DIR. Farthing
as special health officer, with full
power to act.
Before leaving here, DR.. Morgan
issued the following, which, In our
mind, fully covers the situation.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
/ find on investigation that scarlet
fever has been prevalent In your city
since last October. Some Of the cases,
in fact most of them, have been mild
and perhaps great many of them
have been overlooked.
This mildness may not continue and
the epidemic may take a serious turn
at any time with mortality running
anywhere from fifteen to thirty per
cent.
1t therefore behoves all parents or
guardians of children whenever the
child complains Of sore throat to take
it to a physician at once for eXsmina-
ton.
The idea of trying to avoid quaran-
tine is II danger to yourself and COM
munity and every case that is at all
suspicious should be quarantined un-
til the diagnosis is made.
The disease is usually conveyed
from one child to another by direct
contact. Sometimes it is sdisseminat-
ed by dairies. In the present epidem
ic, have been unable to connect it
with the milk supply.
Every child that complains with
sore throat should be kept from school
until the case is declared not to be
scarlet fever.
The infection is contained in secre-
tions from the nose, mouth, throat
and ears and probably in discharges
in kidney and bowels.
1t appears likely that the scales
pealing off the skin are dangerous
only by becoming infected from con-
tact with the secretions and discharges
mentioned above.
Children convalescert from scarlet
fever shall not be permitted to return
to school until ten days after the quar-
antine. The school board will pass
regulation requiring a certificate of
good health of the child from the
health officer of all children who are
absent from school for any consider
able time.
The Colorado State board of Health
laws and regulations are in the hands
of the health officer. Any further in
formation desired on.the subject can
be ATTAINED from him.
J. w. MORGAN, NJ. d.,
Medical Inspector,