Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-06-15
DISEASE AND DIsINFECTIoN. -Dr Harris,

of the Bureau Of Vital Statistics, has prepared
for the Board of Health of New York, a cir
cular on the use and importance OF dlslnfec-
tants. Happily, this city is no" quite
healthy, and entirely free from ep'demlc and
contagious diseases, and with due ptecautioh
it may continue so during the entire summer
Some medical men, however, predict that' IN
consequence Of the backward spring, TINS SUN
msr will be unusually sickly, aud that all thick
" settled localities will be more or less al1lcIeo
with diseases OF all epidemic and contagious
character In view Of this prediction, and lor
the benefit OF the residents of the city, Or.
Harris's circular will be published in the Ga
uatte but as it's entire length would ex-
cIu5s.sin one issue, other important matter, 1t
will he divided into three parts, and appear IN
as many issues, which it would be well Tor our
subscribers to preserve:
The popular practice Of sanitary cleansing
and disinfection affords good illustration OF
The old proyerb, IAN ounce OF prevention ls
better than pound cure iou ~ Hnccnssfn ~
wa have TO keep in view the object to be attain
al ana wieelv select the chemical agents LOT
10 work The Memorandum on Dls!niection
now submitted will answer the many inquiries
that are daily made concerning TINS SuDJeGt.
There ia good reason to hope that epidemic
oboiara nv never again rayago our American
cities, but this hope is based entirely upon inc
fact that both in Europe and our own country
tho people, as we'll rs the physicians, have an
abiding fuith in sanitary cleansing ana dlslniec-
ton, while every intelligent sanitary olhcer
would regard it rs q crime against ll1e t. neg
lect the first case or group OF cases OF cholefN
that comes within his reach.
MEMORANDUM ON DIsINFECTIoN
Fresh dir and Pure Water, Constant Vcmt'Ia-
ton and Cleansing arc Natural Means Of Pre-
veutiyq and Destroying the Causes Of Injection
and Disease There may be infected or foul
places and things and there may ne times
of spccial necessity, or Sudden danger from the
presence Of infectious epidemic disease, which
require the instant arrest or destruction OF tnc
infection and all its removable causes. Ibis
is disinfection. The clothing from persons with
small pox, scarlatina, or typhus, and even the
mir in the sick rooms Of such patients, Is mice
tious: and the sick with typhoid fever or with
cholera discharge cxcrcmental matter. which
possesses ntective ~ operties that should be i'm
mcdiately destroyed. Chemistry and medical
experience have proved what methods can most
successfully be employed for disinfection and
sanitary cleansing.
In this Memorandum the words infection and
dlsinfection are employed just as they are com.
monty understood, rs referring to the prevent
Bile causes that repropagate specific kinds OF dl-
scase. These causes are:
1st The specific infectious property or sub
stance Of any one Of the posticntial disorders
ID. The local impurities and moisturcs Of the
house and grounds where the outbreaks Of di-
seasc have occurred or are liable to occur.
3D.. The foul cxhalations and atmospheric I'M
puritics Of which injurc health Or help 10 prop
agate pestenta epidemic.
Experience has proved that it is possible by
certain chemical agencies (such as are described
in 4, 5, 6 and 7. in this MemoTandum,) wholly
TO destroy or prevent the operation Of the spe-
cifc infection or contag ion Of any disease, but
to do this it is necessary that precise rules
should be observed in applying the dlsntec-
tants, and, as regards cholera and typhoid ie-
yer it is especially important that the infCctivo
discharges from the sick should be di-infected
as soon as voided from the body, and that what
ever clothing or surfaces may have been solled
by such discharges should be disinfected as
soon as practicable.
The fact also should be borne in mind by all
persons who have charge of infected things that
and Of cholera espccia. ~, Is capable OF rapid
increase IN filthy places, and in foul, damp
atmosphere. Therefore the cleansing and dis
infection of such places should, if possible, pre-
cede the arrival or outbreak of any pestilential
infection. Every unclcan and damp place about
dwelling houses warehouses, fAcLories places
Of assembage, passenger vessels, railway de-
pots and hotels, should be made and kept per
tectly clean and dry All drains, privics and
water closets should be kept Ms clean as possible,
and should be thoroughly purified before chol-
era comes into the neighborhood Such clean
sing and disinfcction give this surc:t protection
against aIl epidemics.