The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-03
THE CHOLERA.
Important Communication to the Dav
Book from DR.. Samuel X. jackson,
Secretary OF the Board OF Health Of
this City, on the Use of PrOphyiactios
and DIsfnfe Giants.

and DIstnfe Giants.
MEssss EDITORS: | received your letter
requesting me to furnish information as to the
use of prophyactics and dis nfectants, just at
the moment of leaving New York, and cheer
fully comply with your request at the earliest
practicable moment. do 80 the more will
i lngly, since the energetic Metropolitan Board
Of Health has demonstrated beyond all doubt,
the value of these means. They claim, and
the claim is universally admitted in New
York, that they have entire control over the
cholera, that they have prevented and are
preventing its spread, and that, but for the
means used, the city would be overrun with
il. That there has been discovered the mode
by which the cholera poison is propagated.
and the means by which it can be destroyed,
no one there now doubts, and from copious
memoranda made in New York, am enabled
to furnish some information which may be of
service to our community if the cholera APP
pears amongst US.
The conclusions arrived at BY Investigators
into this mysterious disease, have been stated
thus
ut appears to be characteristic Of cholera,
not only of the disease in its developed and
alarming form, but equally of the slightest
diarrhea which the epidemic can produce,
that all matters which the patient discharges
from his stomach OF bowels are infectve, and
that the patients power of injecting other
persons is represented almost or quite exclu-
slvely by these discharges; and that, however,
they are comparatively non-nfective at the
moment when they are discharged; but after
wards, while undergoing decomposition, these
fluids acquire their maximum Of infective
power that if they be cast away without pre-
vious disinfection, they will impair! their own
lntective quality to the excremental matters
with which they mingle in filth, sodden earth,
or in repositories and conduits of filth, end to
the efhuvia which these excremental matters
evolve; that if the infective material, by leak
age or soakage from drains or ce spools, or
otherwise. gets access, even ia the smallest
quantity. directly, or through porous soil, to
wells or other sources Of drinking water, it
can effect in the most dangerous manner very
large volumes of water that the infective in
fuence of cheleraic discharges attaches to
whatever bedding, clothing, towels, or other
things that have been imbued with them, and
renders these things, if not disinfected capa-
BILE of spreading the disease in places whittier
they are sent for washing or other purposes;
that, in the above described ways, even sin
gle case Of disease, perhaps Of the slightest de-
gree, and perhaps quite unsupported in its
operate, exert terribly infective power on
considerable masses Of population"
We see from these conclusions that the
disease Id propagated not only by per.
sons in a state Of developed cholera, but
also by persons suffering from Choleraic
Diarrhea, who can move about, and who are
apparently in health for some days after the
reception of the disease ''These last from
their passing unquestioned and unsupported,
are the most dangerous to the communities
among whom they move"
Assuming these to be settled pr.nci pies, the
Metropolitan Board of Health, gives the fol-
lowing enumeration of things to be done be-
fore cholera comes
Cleaning, absolute, thorough, and continued
cleaning OF dwellings, courtyards, cellars,
vaults, house drains, garbage, privies, stables
and the public streets Removal Of all sur
face filth and surface moisture from the vci-
nifty OF dwelling houses, streets, and towns;
and for this purpose, look we'll to every
house. drain. cess pool, gutter, ditch, and
sewer Remove every obstruction to perfect
drainage. To absorb moisture about court
yards, cellars, and vaults, use quick lime or
fresh lime, and charcoal, mixed, freely and
frequently. White wash walls and ceiling.
Flush all drains and waste pipes, particularly
those leading from sinks or water closets,
freely every day, with a full volume of water.
Antseptics must be abundantly applied and
appropriately selected to arrest and prevent
every kind Of putrefaction in privies, water
closets, house drains, sinks, cess pools, and
garbage tubs, cellars, styes, offal depots, filthy
manurs heaps and whatever materials or
pisces tend to putrefaction, or the production
of eauvia
Live prudently, use neurishing food; look
70 the restitution and wants of the poor and
ignorant classes Watch the first tendencies
to diarrhes, and provide immediate medical
care for the sick with that disorder, particu-
arly If occurring in persons travelling, or re-
Gently from regions where cholera prevails
Seaports or waterside towns, that have any
marine or boating intercourse with infected
places, should institute strict sanitary inquiry
upon every vessel arriving from such places
with reference to; 1st The sickness Of any
person on board I'd The cleanliness of the
vessel itself The sick in any stage and symp-
tom Of cholera to be under medical advice,
and all filthy vessels to receive! sanitary or
ders; for the neglect of sanitary cleaning and
care, in both sea aud inland passenger vessels,
and the neglect of the cholera sick on board
OF them frequently have furnished the ex-
citing and disseminating causes Of the cpl
demics
Every passenger vessel should guard against
evils by means of constant ventilation and
the use of antiseptics in all foul and damp
places, Perfect cleanliness and ventilation Of
tae ship or boat, and proper care for the
SICK aud faithful reporting by the sick to
ohcers OF the vessel and sanitary authorities
IN ports. are vitality important duties, Rail-
road officers should enforce daily repeated
cleansing and the uss of antsepties in the ac-
ttpunmedatlons at passenger stations and lie
me sns closets of passenger cars. Quarantine
.nu sanitary cordons are rarely available be-
tween inland towns and neighboring por Is,