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Show SCARLET FEVER HAS ALARMED CITY AUTHORITIES I I The health authorities of the city fear a scarlet fever epidemic- Six now cases wore reported to Health Officer George Shorten this morning, making eighteen cases in all. Unless I strenuous efforts are made to check it, there will be a serious condition in the city. Last year it was measles, but the scarlet fever is much moro dreaded. The victims have to bo quarantined quar-antined a longer timo and the disease is so much more liable to result seriously. The cases are, for the most part, in the south end of the city, but with the schools crowded, as they have to bo until all the buildings are ready for occupancy, it is feared that soon. the disease will spread. Everything possible pos-sible is being done to prevent this. Commissioner Chris Flygare, head of the department of health, asks that the parents, especially, aid tho department depart-ment and if they find the least symptoms symp-toms of Illness in their children, to communicate with Mr. Shorten or Relnhold Kxutfle-vjjbjlciaiL, -in. this way it is thought the threatened epidemic may be averted. The schools opened this fall with a i clean bill of health. There was not a I single case of contagion in the city j on the day the schools were called Siifce that time, up until the past few days, the city lias been in excellent health, but suddenly scarlet fever has made its appearance and has spread so rapidly within the last three days that serious apprehension is felt An informal meeting between the health authorities of the city was held in the office of Commissioner Flygare this morning and steps for averting a serious epidemic Avero discussed. It was decided to give tho matter all the publicity possible and to urge the parents to co-operate. During the measles epidemic last winter. It was stated that in many cases the existence of the disease was not brought to the attention of the health officers. The children were kept indoors and, in many cases, physicians were not called. Then the children were allowed to leave the house before they were entirely free' from the possibility of spreading the' disease. I oo i |