West Licking Historical Society: Looking back at scarlet fever

Pataskala Standard
·1 min read

In our past and as late as the early part of the twentieth century, this sign could be seen in the window of a person affected with a "problem" disease of the time, scarlet fever.

In our past and as late as the early part of the twentieth century, this sign could be seen in the window of a person affected with a ‘problem’ disease of the time, scarlet fever.
In our past and as late as the early part of the twentieth century, this sign could be seen in the window of a person affected with a ‘problem’ disease of the time, scarlet fever.

This sign was used to identify a "quarantined" individual prohibiting the diseased person’s contact with anyone else.

The medical world eventually found a vaccine for scarlet fever but until that medical success, quarantines were the only way to control the disease.

This is of particular interest to us today as we deal with COVID-19 and the many rules and regulations that have evolved as the world has tried to reduce its prevalence and severity.

It must be noted that the Board of Health did control the necessity for the "quarantine" and, as many of us may remember, there were no negotiations regarding this necessity.

Similar quarantines were necessary for other diseases that were of a very serious nature.

This information was provided by the West Licking Historical Society.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: West Licking Historical Society: Looking back at scarlet fever