Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-05
SOME DIPHTHERIA AND o.
rs, SCARLET FEVER IN err


Four cases of scarlet fever and twu
cases of diphtheria were reported from
Norwich last week, according to the
weekly morbidity report issued by the
state department of health.
A Slight increase in communicable dis
case, particularly scarlet fever, took
place during the past week in Connect
cut. Scarlet fever. which has been pre-
valent in the larger oefters, is now
into the surrounding communities, but
the employment of public health or school
nurses has assisted in preventing cpl
denies among school children.
Measles. which became epidemic early
in the fall in the northeastern part Of
the state Is now present generally
throughout the central part of Connecti-
cut and will spread into western Connec-
ticut in Burlington, New Hartford, Win
sted. Danbury and to the coast commu-
mites west Of New Haven.
The two cases of trichInosis reported
last week from Waterbury recalls this
disease again as one Of the diseases that
is preventabie. There would be hun
dreds of cases of trichinosis each year .in
Connecticut if meat was not properly
smoked pickled OF cooked. The trichin-
ella spiralis is round worm, which
occasionally infects man, but it is quite
common in rats, swine, and few other
animals.
The disease, trichinosis. is spread by
eating the flesh of a diseased animal
Rats become infected Jy, eating infected
pork scraps in abattoirs. and swine are
infected by eating infected material, and
possibly by eating rats dead Of this dis
ease.
Persons are infected by eating infect
ed pork that has not been cooked sui.
fciently to kill the germs.
The chief symptoms of the disease IN
man in general infection of trichinos
is are fever and intense pain in the mus
cles, this paind being caused by the
presence of the larvae Of the vSFm In
bedded in the muscles.
The L. S. Bureau Of Animal 1ndustr,
Of the Department Of Agriculture hal
issued the following statement in regart
to infected meat:
mo method Of inspection has yet beer
devised by which the presence or alb
| sence of trichinae n pork can be determ
! ined with certainty, and the government
meat inspection does not include inspec
tim for this parasite. All persons ar
| accordingly warned not to eat pork. o.
sausage containing pork. whether 1t hal
] been officially inspected Of not, until aftei
it has been properly cooked.
"A temperature OF about 100 degree
F. kills the parasite, therefore pork
! when properly cooked may be eaten with
out danger OF infection. Fresh por)
| should be cooked until it becomes whit,
| and is no longer red in color in all por
tons of the piece. at the center as vel
as near the surface. Dry salt pork. pick
led pork and smoked pork previousi,
sailed or picked. providing the curlni
is thorough. are practically safe so IA
as trichinosis is concerned. but tn
thoroughness Of the curing is not Away
| certain such meat should also be cookeC
before Il lie eaten"
Diseases reported from towns 10 east
ern Connecticut last week were as fol
| lows: ~
=, Diphtheria--Jewett City .; aroton, .
l~Eew London, 5; Norwich, - Stoningtou
:; Ellington. Wiliimantic, l..
Scarlet fever-Coichester. /; Gretor
| 2; New London. 5; Norwich, 4; Water
ford. /; Thompson. 1.
| MeasIez-Lebanon, 1; New Lennon,
Woodstock, 1.
| Whooping cough-Coichester 8; Sel
London, 4; Mansfield, s.