Evening star., 1933-03-17
Eastern Invasion Again Fear
ed, With Danger to Children,
Hikers and Others.
HEALTH SERVICE GIVES
RULES OF PRECAUTION
Underbrush and Weeds Particular
Haunts of Dog Ticks That Com
municate Dread Diesase.

With the spotted fever season again
rapidly approaching in this part OF the
country, sufficient vaccine probably Will
be available this Spring to protect per-
sons in the mid-Atlantic States whose
occupations render them especially eX-
posed to infection, according to Public
Health Service officials.
For children, mixers, picnickers and
others who may get occasional ticks ON
the skin, the Government doctors say,
the best protection will be afforded by
periodic and thorough examinations for
these insects For the next flve or SIX
months every tick is to be regarded as
q potential disease carrier.
This will be the third season for this
dreaded malady with its high mortality
rate in the East especially Maryland
and Virginia. Until three years ago 1t
was believed to be confined to limited
range in the Rocky Mountains. Last
Summer three children contracted it
in the District.
Difficult to Manufacture.
Manufacture Of the vaccine which
gives a fair protection against the dis
ease in the West is a difficult, expen-
sive and dangerous job-so much so
that no commercial drug firm ever has
been willing to undertake 1t. 1t Is
manufactured only at the Public Health
Service laboratory at Hamilton. Mont,
where several workers already have sac
rificed their lives in its production. AL
thought the physical capacity of the
laboratory has been taxed to the limit,
it is explained at the Public Health
Service, it has not been possible to pro-
duce the vaccine in anything like suf-
flcient quantities to render possible a
general vaccination program in the
Eastern area.
The vaccine is made from the ground
up bodies of ticks which have fed on
laboratory animals infected with the
spotted fever virus This is slow job
at the best and. in the past, more than
half the vaccine secured has been
thrown away each year when tests have
shown that it was practically worthless.
This year, with improved methods. it is
believed that approximately IS per cent
OF the material can be saved.
Limited in This Area.
After all. Public Health Service doctors
explain, the disease is far from being
generally diffused over this area. as is
the case in certain Rocky Mountain
sections. 1t appears to be confined to
certain focal points, one of which Is
fairly near Washington, and varies in
its virulence from place to place. A
general vaccination program would cause
great expense and discomfort and would
not be justified by any actual danger
From the present indications it will be
possible to supply the vaccine on re-
quest to farmers, foresters and others
whose work requires that they remain
for protracted periods in underbrush in
localities where there is actual danger
Of the disease. But to protect children
and picnickers in this way will be out
of the question this year.
Spotted fever is spread in this sec
tion by the common dog tick. 1t is an
ubiquitous insect. especially prevalent
around towns. 1t is brushed of dogs
and other animals when they pass
through tall grass and bushes. Then
it will get on persons. But it has been
demonstrated that at least eight hours
Is necessary for the tick to get enough
Of the fever virus into the system to
cause the disease. Consequently there
is no danger if a tick is removed from
the body inside of this period. The
practice followed in the Bitter Root
Valley of Montana and other notorious
fever areas is for members of hunting
parties and others to examine each
other thoroughly at least once every
eight hours.
Health Service Rules.
The following instructions. just Is
sued by DR.. r. r. Parker of the Public
Health Service for the Rocky Mountain
area, are believed equally applicable in
this part Of the country, where the dis
ease is somewhat milder in its mani
festations:
,tr,r,. S,-3 x,rooo,,t;o,, ;c thu mao Wv, ~
Of such clothing as will prevent the
ticks from getting inside the trousers
from the bottom, such as high boots,
leggings, puttees or socks outside the
trouser legs. Passing the hand over
the neck occasionally to feel for ticks
is good habit.
I'm seeking their hosts, ticks crawl
up grass, bushes and other low vege-
taticn and are seldom found at a
height greater than 18 inches. In spite
of precautions certain number may
reach the body through openings in
the clothing. Thorough examinations
made twice each day are desirable.
IF two persons occupy the same bed
exceptional care should be used for the
reason that the first person to whom
an infected tick attaches is reasonably
safe for some hours, but If it should
become dislodged during the night and
reattach to a second person infection
would take place quickly. Instances
Of infection by one tick Of two per-
sons in the same bed are not n-
common"
Avoiding Of Trails.
Campers in the open are urged to
avoid proximity to trails and old roads
In pitching their camps and especially
brushy areas beside streams. The
safest camping ground, it is pointed
out, is In standing timber where there
Is little mderbrush.
gerous situation" the instructions con-
afforded If nearby vegetation is dragged
over with a. white cloth which can be
attached to a pole.
The first consideration, 1t Is pointed
out, is immediate removal of any at
tached tick, regardless of the method.
Some use turpentine, iodine, kerosene
and similar substances to make the
insect let 60 its hold but it usually Is
best to merely pick it of with the
fingers, rather than allow any delay.
Although the eastern form of the
disease appears to be less virulent than
the western, it is extremely dangerous,
DR.. Parker points OUT, ana the only
thing to do IS to put the victim to bed
and call q doctor at once. Any exertion
is to be avoided and such drugs as
aspirin are especially dangerous.
The first symptoms usually appear
about five days after the infection, a
series of chilly sensations being fol-
lowed by a definite chill. This is soon
followed with a fever accompanied by
severe headache, bloodshot eyes often
sensitive to light, sore eye-balls, white
coated tongue with red edges, deep,
dusky flush on face; pain in the
muscles, bones and joints; backache,
particularly in the lower portion; nose
bleed, bronchial cough, constipation and
marked weakness.
s