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Prevention of Communicable Disease: Quarantine

Quarantine. - As soon as the case is known to be smallpox, convey the patient if practicable to a hospital or pesthouse, or isolate in a sick room prepared in all respects as for typhoid fever. Placard the premises.

Vaccinate every member of the family. Allow no one to leave the house until the vaccination "takes" or it appears that the person is immune by reason of previous vaccination.

The bread-winners may then leave the premises, after proper disinfection under the advice of a physician or public health officer, but must board and room elsewhere during the progress of the disease. Do not allow the nurse and other members of the family to leave the premises or mingle with other persons. All members of the family who have been successfully vaccinated and revaccinated at the outbreak of the disease will be immune. They are in no danger from the disease themselves, but should not come in contact with other persons as they may communicate the disease on their person or clothing. Household pets, flies and insects should be rigidly excluded from the premises. No visitors should be admitted under any pretext. Every sanitary precaution described under typhoid fever should be observed with redoubled vigilance on account of the virulence of the germs. All excreta should be thoroughly disinfected and afterwards buried. After the recovery or death of the patient, not only the sick room but every room in the dwelling should be thoroughly fumigated with formaldehyde or sulphur or preferably with both.

Quarantine should be observed until the process of desquamation is complete. The length of time will depend entirely on the individual case. A safe rule is to await the disappearance of the peculiar red specks at the bottom of the pits or scars. As long as these spots are visible the desquamation is going on.