A Serious Matter.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3490, 2 March 1880, Page 2

A Serious Matter.

it is our unpleasant duty to chronicle a very sudden death, and from «* very malignant disease, namely, scarlet fever maligna. It appears a young girl 14 years of age, named Delamore, at present residing with her grandparents, named Pickett, in Baillie street was taken ill yesterday with what was at first supposed to be brain fever, but upon Dr Huxtable being called in he immediately recognised the symptoms of scarlet fever, and of course at once took all the necessary steps to relieve the sufferer and to prevent the spread of the disease, L«st night, however, the case terminated fatally, and this morning Dr Payne sent a letter to the lopal Board of Heilth on the subject. Mr Dean summoned immediately the Board, when, after hearing the evidence of Mr Mason, the following instructions were issued :—The police were requested to prevent any persons from "visiting the house or the friends of the deceased j the clothing used to be boiled in a solution of carbolic acid and water, and if not to be burnt, also the bedding; all towels used to be boiled, and the house to be fumigated with all clothes worn by the

inmates, who are not to leave the dwelling without the permission of the officer of the Board of. Health ; tho water used for washing purposes to be buried, and the body of the girl to be interred wilhi^six hours, under the direction of Mr Mason.; This is a very painful case, the deceased being & fine, healthy, well-educated and intelligent girl, greatly beloved by her •grand-parents and friends. There is no reason given for the outbreak of this terrible disease so fatal to children especially. We trust that the steps taken by the authorities will effectually prevent the spread of the fever. Dr Payne seems from his letter to think the present case a very serious one, so that acquaintances and friends of the deceased should be very careful in holding intercourse with members of her family. A free use of disinfectants would not do any harm wherever the slightest unpleasant smell from defective drainage exists, and the authorities might very well furnish carbolic acid to all requiring it.