The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-12-24
Mistellanrous.
Prevention of Scarlet Fever.

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SCARLET FEVER Is highly conta-
gious disease, and spreads from one per.
son to another, and is thus propagated
in families, towns, and districts. 1t is
therefore highly desirable that every
one should understand the nature of
this disease, and the means of prevent.
ing Its spreading. 1t Is always attend.
ed with scarlet eruption on the skin,
and Is mostly accompanied by a sore
throat Whenever children have sore
throats or eruption on the skin, they
should be separated from the rest of the
family until doctor has seen them, or
these symptoms have disappeared.
Ihere is every reason to believe that
during the progress of this disease not
only The eruption of the skin but every
thing that Is thrown from the body of
the infected person Is heavily laden
with the germs or seeds which are ca.
pable of propagating the disease in
another person. The discharge from
the nose and throat are especially vir-
ulent. There is also reason to believe
that the discharges from the bowels are
the same. The kidneys are frequently
dangerously diseased in scarlet fever,
and the secretion from these organs is
also probably highly contagious; the
power ofsprcading the poison by means
OF these secretions is not confined to
their Immediately leaving the body,
but continue long alter.
1t is on this account that when these
secretions have found their way to the
cesspool and sewer, they may still give
OIL poison to the surrounding air, and
persons breathing it may become infec-
ted. Taking these things into consid-
grafton, it will be seen that it is neces.
sary, If possible, to destroy and annihi-
late this poison before 1t leaves the room
where the person is whose body has
produced il. The following directions,
drawn up by DIR. w. Budd, should in
all cases be carried into effect:
81. The room should be cleared of all
needless woolen or other draperies which
might possibly serve to harbor the pois.
on.
2. a basin charged with chloride or
carbolate of lime, or some other conve-
nient disinfectant, should be kept con.
stantly ON the bed for the patient to
spit into.
8. A large vessel, containing water
impregnated with chlorides, or with
Condy's fluid, should always stand in
the room for the reception of all bed
and body linen Immediately on its re-
moval from the person of the patient.
4. Pocket handkerchiefs should not
be used, and small pieces of rag mploy-
ed instead for wiping the mouth and
nose. Each piece, after being once used
should be Immediately burnt.
.. AS the hands of nurses of necessity
become frequently soiled by the secre
tions, good supply of towels and two
basins-one containing water with Con-
dy's fluid or chloridcs, and another
plain soap and water, should be always
at hand for the immediate removal of
the taint.
6. All glasses, cups, or other vessels,
used by or about the patient, should be
scrupulously cleaned before being used
by others.
7. The discharges from the bowels and
kidneys should be received on their
every issue from the body into vessels
charged with disinfectants."
By these measures the greater part of
the germs which are thrown off by in.
ternal surfaces may be robbed of their
power to propagate the disease. The
poisonous germs that are thrown off
from the skin requires a somewhat diff.
ferent treatment. The plan recommen-
ded by DR.. Budd for the purpose of pre-
venting the poison from the skin being
disseminated through the air is to put
oil all over the skin. This practice is
to commence on the fourth day after
the appearance Of the eruption, and to
be continued every day until the pa.
tient is well enough to take a warm
bath, in which the whole person is well
washed with disinfectant soap and wa
ter. These baths should be administer
ed every other day. four times, when
the disinfection of the skin may be re-
garded as complete. This proceeding |
should not, however, be adopted with
out consulting the medical man who is |
in attendance on the patient. Speaking
of the plans above recommended, DR..
Budd says:
"The success of this method in my |
own hands has been very remarkable. |
For period of nearly twenty years,
during which have employed it in |
very wide field, have never known |
the disease spread in single instance
beyond the sick room, and in very few |
instances within it. Time after time |
have treated the fever in houses crowd |
ed from attic to basement with children |
and others, who have, nevertheless, es-
capped infection. The two elements in |
the method are, separation on the one
hand, and disinfection on the othCr."
HADN'T CENTS ENouGH.-Muggins |
has sharp porter.
This chap returned from the post-ofiice