The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-03-04
HEALTH OFFICER
SOUNDS WARNING
MUCH CONTAGION, BUT
LIGHT, SAYS BIGGS

Public Said to be Indifferent to
Quarantine Measures-Water at
Sharon Center Analysed, Found
to be Contaminated.
According to DIR. H. H. Biggs,
Health Commissioner for Medina
county, in statement in the Sentinel
two weeks ago, there are a consider
able number of contagious diseases
throughout the county.
NJ The diseases most prevalent (that
are being reported) are smallpox and
sccarlet fever. Fortunately most cas-
es are mild in type. This has in turn
however, reacted greatly to the dis
advantage Of the health department,
inasmuch as many people have come
to regard these diseases lightly, re-
fuse TO adhere to proper quarantine.
measures, and thus constantly expose
the, general public to infection. Thus
the public is constantly exposed to
these and other contagious diseases,
on the streets, in street cars, in pic
ture shows, and indeed in public gath
erings of every description, DR.. Biggs
says.
About 70 per cent of the cases of
smallpox in the county are centered
in the village of Wadsworth. This
is undoubtedly due to its proximity to
Akron, where many Wadsworth
people are employed. Smallpox is
as usual this winter thoroughly dis
seminated~ throughout every part of
the city of Akron.
In Medina village, whooping cough
and diphtheria lead in the list of dis
eases reported. Accurate returns
would probably displace these diseas-
es from this place of prominence.
During the month just past, four
sources of water supply have been
examined and laboratory tests made.
AT Sharon Center, the water supply
was found to be contaminated at GER
tain points, and the wells were order
ed closed. An engineer from the
State Department of Health will be
on the ground as soon as available,
and thorough survey of the, situa-
tion made, and all necessary steps TAX
en- to protect the public. Happily,
no cases of typhoid fever have been
reported to date from that village.
Cases of notifiable diseases to the
District Health Board in February, are
| AS follows:
Diphtheria; Lodi |, Medina 4, Wads-
worth, q; influenza, Brunswick /, Liv-
erpool !, Wadsworth township S;
measles, Medina |; mumps, Seville 1,
Wadsworth 8, Liverpool 2; pneumon-
ia, Brunswick 2, Liverpool 2, Wads-
worth township 2; scarlet fever Le-
roy |, Lodi /, Medina 3, Seville 1,
Wadsworth 6, Sharon l; smallpox,
Wadsworth 10, Lafayette 2, Medina
township 2, Montville, Sharon and
Wadsworth townships each l.; syphi-
lis, Medina 2, Wadsworth l !; tubercu-
losis. Medina township /; whooping
cough, Medina 6, Brunswick 2.
It's Dr. Biggs' purpose, he saws, to
teach the people through bulletins is
sued from time to- time, the chief
characteristics of The various contag-
ious diseases. the principal means of
prevention to those who have been ex-
posed, as we'll as the proper care of
those afflicted.
Concerning scarlet fever, Dr. >Biggs
says:
"Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever may be
very serious disease, with high tenn
perature,. severe sore throat, and in
tense eruption, followed by peeling OF
the superficial layers of the skin, In
other cases, these symptoms may be
much milder, and may even escape
recognition. =
However" says the Doctor, "it is
necessary to remember that fatal at
tack n.ay result from contact with the
mildest case. Then, too, serious in
flammation of the kidneys and other
organs may come as after-effects in
even the mildest cases. So you cannot
afford not to call your doctor early in
all cases of doubt"
Cleanliness is the best disinfect-
ant" declares DR.. Biggs, "and fresh
air and sunlight are important"
Smallpox" says DR.. Biggs, sis a
highly communicable disease, particu-
larly fatal to young children and ex-
pectant mothers, the period of incuba-
ton varying from 5 to 20 days; more
often12.
"The control of this disease depends
upon vaccination" the Doctor says.
Vaccination before exposure is: a
nearly perfect protection. This is al
SO true Of vaccination up to the fourth
day Of incubation. Persons in any
stage of the incubation period should
be vaccinated, for the exact date of ex-
posure may not be known, the in
cubation may be prolonged one, and
there Is at any rate q chance of mod
flying if not preventing entirely the
development of the disease"
"Play The game safep is DR.. ,Biggs
crisp way Of putting it. "It is the only
thing to do. If you have never had
smallpox, if you have never been sue
cessfully vaccinated, or if it has been
over five years since you had sue
cessful 'take'go to your doctor and
have him vaccinate you. Two scccess-
full vaccinations usually protect against
smallpox for life. Certainly all per-
sons who have possibly been exposed
to a case Of smallpox should be
promptly vaccinated, unless success
i ~ 4 u a..