SCARLATINA.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19460, 6 November 1928, Page 10

SCARLATINA.

SOME PREVENTIVE MEASURES.

SUGGESTIONS BY MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.

Some preventive measures against scarlatina were described by Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, Medical Officer of Health, to a representative of Thb Press yesterday. "The first measure to be taken in an epidemic," Dr. Telford said, "is to bring milk, for household purposes, to the boil, and then rapidly cool it before use. It should be kept stored in this cool condition until required for use. Milk is one of the commonest means of spreading infection. Second, absolute personal cleanliness and general cleanliness should be observed. Third, avoidance of crowds as far as possible. Fourth, there is no absolute means of keeping the throat and nose permanently sterilised by means of gargles and nasal douches. Occasional gargles can be used, such as potassium permanganate crystals—sufficient crystals added to a tumbler of water to produce a pink colour. The throat should be gargled with this two or three times daily. Another gargle is half a teaspoonful of common table salt to a tumblerful of lukewarm water; Use in similar manner to the preceding. Another method for those attempting permanent disinfection of#the respiratory tract is to smear the inside of the nostrils, at their entrance, with eucalyptus ointment of B.P. strength."