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Prevention of Communicable Disease
TYPHOID FEVER-THE SICK ROOM-TUBERCULOSIS OR CONSUMP- TION-SMALLPOX - VACCINATION - CHICKENPOX - MALARIA - YELLOW FEVER-HOOKWORM DISEASE-FOREIGN DISEASES- CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF ANIMALS Since the rise of the germ theory there has been a complete revolution in the attitude of well-informed persons toward the subject of disease. A large number of the most common and heretofore fatal enemies of mankind are now well known to be absolutely preventable. The appearance of the first case of any communicable malady may be due to unavoidable accident; the spread of the disease must be attributed to ignorance or to criminal carelessness. In cities, persons ill with contagious diseases are either isolated in hospitals set apart for that purpose, or quarantined in their own homes by law. The necessary sanitary regulations are enforced by trained inspectors under the authority of the Board of Health. The absence of such officials in most rural neighborhoods shifts this responsibility to the head of the family. Unless parents in such localities take the pains to inform themselves so that they can intelligently co-operate with the attending physician, unnecessary deaths from preventable diseases will continue to occur.
No attempt will be made here to discuss the treatment of contagious or other diseases. In all suspected cases a physician should be promptly summoned. Our purpose here is simply to make clear the causes of preventable disease and to describe the ordinary sources and channels of infection. When these are fully understood and proper preventive measures taken, the likelihood of infection will be reduced to a minimum. Or, if by some unhappy accident a member of a family becomes infected, such knowledge will enable those in charge of the patient to prevent the spread of the disease. A careful study has been made of all the recent publications of Boards of Health of city, state and nation throughout the United States. The most essential knowledge which they impart is here condensed for ready reference. Many of these bulletins, however, contain detailed information on each of the principal contagious diseases which would extend far beyond the limits of the present chapter. Hence, on the appearance of any contagious disease, in any family or neighborhood, address a postal card to the Secretary of the Board of Health at the nearest metropolitan city. Address another to the Secretary of the State Board of Health at the State Capital.
Also a third to the Surgeon-General of the United States, Washington, D. C. Name the disease and request copies of all available circular matter relating to it. Three cents thus spent on postal cards will bring back, without charge, full detailed practical information and instruction of great value. Also ask to have copies of these bulletins mailed to the heads of other families where contagious diseases have broken out, or where, through ignorance or neglect, conditions are so unsanitary as to threaten the public health.
No ordinary person would knowingly give poison to the members of his own family or those of his neighbor. Yet, through ignorance, many well meaning persons are permitting the existence of conditions within their control which result directly in the poisoning of others through the germs of contagious diseases. - Contagious Diseases. The most usual communicable diseases among adults are consumption (tuberculosis), typhoid fever (typhus fever), smallpox, and, in some localities, yellow fever, malaria and hookworm disease.
Several other communicable diseases are most common among children, as diphtheria (membranous croup, diphtheritic sore throat), scarlet fever (scarlatina, scarlet rash), measles (German measles), chickenpox, mumps, and whooping cough. Another class is most prevalent among small infants, as infantile paralysis (anterior poliomyelitis), cerebrospinal meningitis, summer complaint, congenital blindness (ophthalmia neonatorum). The preventable diseases of children are discussed in the succeeding chapter.
There is a small class of virulent contagious diseases the infection from which may usually be traced to immigration from foreign parts.
These include Asiatic cholera, bubonic plague and leprosy. Another communicable disease to which especial attention has been directed in recent years is hookworm disease. In addition, pediculosis, trachoma, ringworm, scabies and impetigo contagiosa, are held to be so contagious as to be dangerous to the public health. Most of the above diseases are known to be preventable. It is confidently believed that all can be controlled and their communication from one person to another prevented, if certain well understood precautions are observed.