CHICKEN POX
Reading edition
Corresponding to measles in its degree of contagiousness, chicken pox occurs in extensive epidemics. In cities occasional cases appear at any time, but at intervals epidemic outbreaks occur. Most children have the disease during early years, but adults may also have it if they have not come in contact with it in childhood. This disease is entirely different from small pox and has no relationship to chickens. The cause is unknown, but doubtless is a living germ. The crusts from the skin have usually been blamed for the transferring of the disease from one person to others. The disease however is contagious before the crusts from the body have separated, and it is likely that the infectious agent may be in the respiratory secretions early in the disease. One attack protects for life. Second attacks are practically unknown.
The period of incubation which passes between the time of exposure and the appearance of signs of the disease is quite long, being about three weeks, varying in individuals between twelve and twenty-two days.