Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-15
FIRST DEATH FROM
SCARLET FEVER WAS
REPORTED TO-DAY
Disease Among Adults May
Bring Moro Stringent
Quarantine.
FEVER is STILL SPREADING

The scarlet fever outbreak assumed
a serious aspect today, not only from
the fact that there was again a heavy
Increase In the number OF cases ex
isting. but because it has been found
n large number OF adults throughout
the city are suffering from the dIsca sc
and also because one death from the
fever was today reported to the Board
Of Health. the first fatality from this
cause since the disease became 90
widespread. Tho health authorities
had no announcement TO make this
morning as n result of these develop
ments but II Is altogether probable
that the steps taken 20 prevent an
epidemic win be made more stringent
and due TO the prevalence Of the fever
among adults the general closing
order Affecting children under II year.
~ axe may be made 70 apply to adults
as well.
The nrst reported victim OF the
scarlet fever is Leonard Bacon, aged
years, OF ss3 Monroe street. The
child died early this morning. Under
The provisions Of the quarantine laws
burial must he made within thirty
hours after death. His funeral will
he held this afternoon.
patrolman Joseph w. Knox OF 1917
Lincoln street. member OF the police
department. has developed a case O,
scarlet fever. DIR. q w. X. Forrest
the police surgeon reported the case
DIR. Forrest stated this morning thai
there are several cases OF the disess,
among adults and he knows one ply
sician In the city who has four case.
of Briehts disease which developed a,
an Aftermath OF the scarlet fever from
which these adult patients had origin.
ally suffered. He also stated he know,
children who now have the fever VIII,
had II two years ago.
This explodes the general belle,
among laymen that adults We're no.
subject 10 scarlet fever. also that one,
child had the disease they could no.
contract IL again. The Board OF IIesltl
has record OF woman 90 years oil,
who has or did have the fever th,.
winter.
The records OF the health board to
uay al noon showed n total OF IA
cases In the city. Two new cases wer,
reported and three patients were re
ported 10 have recovered. This is al
Increase OF five cases over yesterday
total, when II was hoped the outbreaI
was on the decline.
The failure to prevent the spread O
the disease after the preyentatty,
measures that have been taken Is at
trihuted largely TO the gross care
lsssness on the part OF parents an,
occupants OF houses where scarle
fever has or does now exist. One cas-
was developed today where the parent
of "A child who had the fever permitte,
II 10 come down stairs and play check
ers with other children OF the neigh
borhood. who came into the store th
parents conduct. In another case a
a house that had been placarded tn
child that had the disease was takel
cut FOR an automobile ride every after
noon and while away the placard wa
removed from the house Other seri
ous infractions OF the quarantine law
have been brought TO the attentio,
of the health authorities and II 4
very probable the board will cause tn
arrest OF some OF these v!olators 1
the practice Is not stopped and tn
Quarantine more carefully observed.
So far ae the closing of schools I
|, concerned this order continues in ef
|, feet as does the ban On children unde
!. II years attending the theatres or III
moving picture houses or other gath
lerings.