Seattle Shut Every School to Stop Scarlet Fever

Acting Mayor [name omitted] signed the ordinance passed by council Monday night empowering the board of health to take whatever measures are necessary in the event of an epidemic, including closing any or all of the schools in the city. In accordance with that ordinance and instructions from the board, secretary Dr. Palmer yesterday sent to the secretary of the school board a copy of the resolutions passed by the health board, together with the following order:

"In accordance with the above instructions it becomes my duty to order that all the public schools in the city be closed at 3 o'clock Wednesday, May 29, and that they remain closed until further orders. It is also ordered by the board of health that all infected school buildings shall be fumigated and disinfected."

Letters similar in tenor were sent by Dr. Palmer to all private schools, Sunday schools, kindergartens and Catholic convents, all of which come under the same restriction and will have to be closed.

The members of the board of education were unanimous in declaring their intention to abide by the action of the board of health and to place no obstacles in the way of closing the schools or securing proper fumigation of affected buildings. The only question raised was the legality of the action, in that it might prevent teachers from collecting salaries during the enforced closure. The committee on education met briefly in Mr. King's office yesterday afternoon and discussed salaries for the coming school year. Nothing definite was accomplished; the committee will meet again, probably today. The school board did not meet, the members saying all had been done that could be done for the present.

It is understood that although the orders from the board of health are very positive in regard to gatherings of children for entertainment and other purposes, the high-school entertainment at the Seattle Theater and participation of children in Memorial Day exercises will be permitted, as elaborate arrangements for each have already been made.

Health Officer Palmer was asked what caused scarlet fever, how it could be prevented, and how an epidemic could be checked. He replied: "Every case of scarlatina originates directly or indirectly from a previous case of scarlatina. In a great many cities scarlatina is epidemic. Seattle has had very little scarlatina. The number of cases has gradually increased in the last two years and several cases are known to have been imported from other cities and states. Although scarlatina is contagious at all stages, from the very outset before the eruption makes its appearance, still the most contagious period is that of desquamation, when the skin peels off."

"Most of the cases have been of such a mild character that oftentimes no physician is called and the child apparently recovers without having been seriously ill, and is allowed to mingle with other children while the disease is, in fact, in its most contagious stage. Such unreported cases are undoubtedly the cause of spreading the disease to a large extent. ... If the disease were treated as smallpox is treated it could undoubtedly be summarily suppressed. To accomplish this, however, it would be necessary to have a suitable hospital for contagious diseases, as recommended in my last annual report to the board of health; it would also be necessary to have the infected premises guarded night and day by watchmen for a period of not less than six weeks; it would also be necessary for the city to pay the expenses of feeding the people who were prevented from earning a living. If cases could be taken to the hospital, the quarantine required would be only seven days and persons who preferred not to send their children to the hospital might be required by law to pay the expenses of the quarantine. I should be in favor of suppressing the disease in this manner should any future epidemics of scarlatina or diphtheria break out. The expense ... must necessarily be very large, and of course it will be for the council to determine if it should be incurred."

Dr. S. J. Holmes said epidemics of scarlet fever occur most frequently in autumn, but weather does not influence the disease. They are mainly due to personal contact and transmission. Isolation of cases and cutting off intercourse between the sick and well are the most effectual means of limiting the disease. Other physicians traced the history of scarlet fever and said no means of procuring immunity has yet been discovered, so isolation is the only means known for suppression; the contagion may be conveyed by clothing, furniture, mail and food from the sick room, and prompt isolation, disinfection and bathing during desquamation are essential.