The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-10-04
Copyright by George Matthew Adams
SCARLET FEVER PALACES.
Adults Have Little to Fear from 1t, Says
DIR. Biggs,

DIR. Hermann NJ Biggs, New York
state commissioner of health, selected
scarlet fever as the subject of his latest
health talks by radio.
Children between two and FIVE years
old" he said. catch this disease most
readily-which is true of most infec-
tious diseases. The only good thing
about scarlet fever is that, if you can
avoid taking it until you are grown up,
your chances are excellent of never get
ting it, even though you may be exposed
Almost any grandmother can recog-
nize Il typical case of scarlet fever when
she sees 1.-THE combination of sore
throat. sudden fever, a tongue that looks
like the outside of a strawberry, the
scarlet rash. and then. later on, the
'peeling,' when the skin comes off in
large flakes or scales But at times
the condition is so different that even
the doctor will be puZzled-there may
If no doctor is called. no one knows
that the child has scarlet fever until he
has given it to others. The others
may be less fortunate and have it in a
severe form. Such unrecognized cases
have been responsible for many serious
epidemics.
THE disease germs are in the secre-
lions from the nose and mouth. If there
is a running ear or an abscess some
where else-and such complications are
rather frequent-the matter from these
may contain the germs. sometimes for
weeks after the patient is otherwise
well. 1t may carry the infection directly
a dairy farm, it may get into milk and
be carried TO a large number of people
at the same time.
Years ago we were most concerned
about the persons who We're in the peel
ing stage of the disease. We know now
that it is the discharges mentioned which
contain the germs and that the scales do
not carry the infection unless the skin
has been soiled with these discharges.
Some of the older people recall inter
esting and plausible stories about peo-
pie getting scarlet fever from clothing
which had been laid away in the attic
for many years. from houses in which
cases had occurred years before, and in
other very indirect ways. The disease
is practically never carried this way.
The health officer of today is a detective
as well as a physician and instead of
jumping at such conclusions be makes
a thorough investigation. He knows
that each case comes directly from a pre-
vious case. Usually he is able to trace
the disease to some mild and previously
unrecognized case, or to persons who
have recovered and are still carrying
the germs. BY making such careful in
vestigatiOns he is often able to prevent
serious epidemics.
''Fhose of you who are fathers or
mothers-or hope to be. sometime-will
do we'll to carry these few points away
with you: If you can protect children
until they have passed the period of
greatest danger, they may never have to
have scarlet fever. 1t is dangerous
disease on account of its complications.
Sore throat is a symptom in several in
fictitious diseases it is far better to call
doctor at once than waste time expert
menting with home remedies: there is
less danger. too, of having an epidemic
traced to your do6 You should re-
member also that if no physician is
called. the head of the family is required
to report every case of infectious disease
to the health officer Immediately"