Show Daily Health Service l Epidemic Sore Throat Often O Spread by Milk By DR BIt MORRIS FISHBEIN Editor Journal of the American Medical Med Mcd ical leal Association and of the Health Magazine Epidemic sore throat usually occurs in explosive outbreaks and is spread chiefly by milk mule It must be differentiated from certain tam tain other types of infection of the throat by streptococci which may occur occur oc oc- oc cur almost any time because of the widespread distribution of the vanous varIous various vari van ous forms of streptococci among people people peo peo- plc generally generall There is for instance in a sore throat which Is due to invasion of the throat by the streptococci associated with scarlet fever in cases in which the rash of scarlet fever docs does not develop There is also a type of sore throat and ton- ton which can be shown to be due to the streptococci but which is not epidemic In form Any time that the throat is invaded by these virulent germs and the body is unable to throw them hem off there occurs inflammation of oC the throat the tonsils and the neck wIth fever prostration and all of the theother theother theother other symptoms that usually accorn- accorn accompany accompany pany infection At t such times an examination of or the throat will reveal to the trained observer observer observer ob ob- server the redness and swelling typical typical typical cal of inflammation At the same time if specimens are arc taken from the throat the causative germs will be found They can be raised on culture mediums This disease is usually spread from I one person to another except so far faras faras as concerns the epidemic form Inthe La In Lahe the he epidemic form it is usually found that hat the germs are arc being transferred erred through milk that the thc milk comes from Tom certain dairies that the dairy is s obtaining the milk from a herd in which there arc cows with infected udders and that these cows caws are arc being milked by a with streptococci of f the thc same type in his throat The rhe disease begins promptly and I usually t follows a rapid course Most of f the epidemics of ot septic sore throat thront have occurred in the spring or in the early arly summer althou although h of course they hey may occur at any time Obviously Obvious- Obvious ly y the control of epidemic throat involves the tracing of ot the source of infection and elimination of he the source In general the only advice that can be given iven relative to the avoiding ol ot septic sore throat is proper examination examina- examina tion ion of the throat by a competent phy who will recommend removal of the tonsils or of lymphoid masses in n case there is frequent infection The routine gargling of antiseptics is not apparently particularly helpful in itt preventing infection It Il may be of ot aid in n eliminating Infection once such a condition exists No doubt if it an antiseptic antiseptic antiseptic anti anti- septic could be kept constantly on the tonsils the germs genns would find it difficult difficult difficult cult to lodge there and to remain The gargle merely cleans the throat temporarily and the person may take taken in n a full dose of live streptococci just justas as soon as he gets into contact with other people |