The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-31 00:00:00

BETTER THAN CURE.

The Medical Board of Health, in view of the possible
extension of the terrible epidemic of- small-pox, at
present devastating Sheffield and the neighbouring
towns and of the prevalence of scarlet fever, dip-
theria, and typhoid fever, in and around the metro-
polis, have issued the following notification: The
regulations as to infantile vaccination should be
stringently enforced; and all young persons, on
reaching 12 years of age, should be re-vaccinated.
The emptying of dust-bins and removal of nuisances
should be carried out with regularity and thorough-
ness. Rooms and passages in dwellings should be
freely ventilated daily, even in cold weather. Fires
in apartments greatly promote ventilation. Where
fever has occurred, all infected linen, sheets, blankets,
ikc., should, before being washed, be immersed in a
tub of water impregnated with a disinfectant; while
mattresses, pillows, B:c., should be sent to be disin-
fected by the parish authorities. Great danger is
incurred by personal contact with such infected
articles, and it should be known that any person
found dealing in, or exposing such articles for sale is
liable to be punished with fine or imprisonment. In
all cases of fever, the sick room should be entered by
none but those in attendance on the patients, and, to
obtain isolation from the rest of the dwelling, the
sick room should, when possible, be situate on the top
floor of the house; and a sheet, or other cotton fabric
should be suspended across the door-way, and kept
saturated with disinfectants. It should be remem-
bered that mild cases of fever may infect other per-
sons severely. Any escape of sewer air through traps
and closets should be stopped without delay, as there
is no doubt that continued inhalation of foul air pre-
disposes the constitution to the attacks of diphtheria
and fevers. The neglected condition of cisterns and
water - butts is also a frequent cause of illness,
and their contents should be tested to discover the
presence of pollution or organic taint.
A TOWN BURNT OUT.

A despatch from Rangoon states :—The town of
Myingyan, in Upper Burmah, situate on the eastern
bank of the Irrawaddy, and an important military
post, has been almost destroyed by fire. The fire
began during a dust storm, but the origin of the out-
break is uncertain. It is, however, believed to have
been due to incendiarism. The earlier accounts
received represented the effects of the fire as not
being very serious, but it is since ascertained that
nearly the whole native town has been destroyed.
The Rangoon Times states that 15,000 people are
rendered houseless, and great quantities of grain,
jaggery, hides, and other goods stored in a go-down
near the river at Myingyan have been destroyed.
Another large fire has occurred in Rangoon, and it
extended from Phayre-street to Sparks-street, burning
through seven blocks. About 150 houses were
destroyed, but the majority of them were of little
value.

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