Public Health Issues in 1881
Bills to establish sanitary code,
registration of vital statistics, licensing of the practice of medicine
were introduced, but not passed
Scarlet
fever epidemic in Charleston
German
measles epidemic statewide
Bills to establish sanitary code,
registration of vital statistics, licensing of the practice of medicine
were introduced, but not passed
Scarlet
fever epidemic in Charleston
German
measles epidemic statewide
| The board
introduced bills to establish a sanitary code, registration of vital
statistics, licensing the practice of medicine and surgery. Of course, none
of these bills were passed right away – it took years before the laws were
put into place. |
|
| Some of the health
issues the Board faced were presented
in the annual report. Dr. Prioleau of the Medical College of
Charleston gave a compelling report on the scarlet fever epidemic there. |
|
| An Epidemic of
Scarlatina at Charleston. Dr. J Ford Prioleau. Professor at Medical College
of SC, Chairman of the Committee on Endemic and Epidemic Disease, State Board
of Health |
|
| By the middle of
March the epidemic was fairly upon the people. So sudden was its onset, and
so violent its attack,… that the community became alarmed, and soon most
exaggerated statements were spread … As in all epidemics of this disease, its
fierceness was mainly upon the young.
Early in its course several families lost three or four children; some
families were rendered childless. .. violent cases terminated fatally, some
within twenty-four hours… Invariably, in these instances of early death, the
little patient suffered from head symptoms, and fell into one or more
convulsive seizures, horrible for the friends to see, which always presented
the appearance…of great agony. These
cases produced an impression upon those who saw them that could never be
effaced...Children were taken from the schools; families were removed into
the country… many of those who remained, secluded their children within their
premises...Infected houses were shunned; even near relatives declined to
visit or hold any communication, even indirectly, with the members of
families of the sick, and so great was the fear that a few storekeepers
refused to let the families or their servants trade with them, or even to
enter their stores....The Board of Health issued circulars … to the citizens,
and physicians were requested to report all cases... The relatives of the
deceased were asked to have the services of the Church performed at home, and
the Board of Health prevented funeral services of those who had died of this
disease from being conducted in the churches or the public edifices. There
were a total of 117 reported deaths during the epidemic: the number of cases
was estimated at 1,170, based on an estimated case fatality rate of 10%. |