Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-02-16
Scarlet Fever.

tary inspectors show very great
increase III the number of deaths
from this cause. If, as we a.'e
told, the usual percentage of NOR.
tality in scarlet fever is one to
twelve, it would seem probable
that even more cases occur than
are reported to the Board of
Health. As a means of lesSening
the spread of the highly conta
gious disease, the Medical Gazette
publishes the subjoined precau
tions, which have been satisfacto
rily tested in England in a very
large number of instances
DIRECTIONS.
l. On the first appearance Of
the disease the patient should be
placed in separate apartment, as
near the top Of the house as pos
Sibie, from which all curtains
carpet, bed hanging0 and other
needless articles of furniture
should be removed, and no person
except the medical attendant and
the nurse or mother permitted to
enter the room.
2 A basin containing solution
of chloride of lime or carbolic acid
should be placed near the bed for
the patient to spit in.
3. A large vessel containing
water, into which has been poured
either Condy's fluid, or the solu-
ton of chloride Of soda or lime,
should be kept in the room, and
into this all the bed and body lin
en-, as soon as it is removed from
the patient, and all soiIed towels,
&C., should be placed, having been
kept there for some time, the
things may be removed and sent
to the laundress.
/ 4. Pocket handkerchiefs should
not be used, but pieces Of rag EN-,
! ployed instead, for wiping the
mouth and nose of the patient
each piece, after being used, should
be Immediately burned.
5. A plentiful supply of water
and towels should be kept for the
use of the nurse, whose hands of
necessity will become soiled by the
secretions of the patient; in one
hand basin the water should be
impregnated with Condy's fluid or
chlorides, by which the faint of
the hands may be at once removed.
6. All glasses, cups, plates, or
other vessels used in the sick room
should be scrupulousIy cleaned in
boiling water, before being USED
by other persons.
Z. Outside of the sick chamber
a sheet should be suspended so as
to cover the entire doorway this
should be kept constantly wet
with a solution of carbolic acid or
chloride of lime. The effect of
this will be to keep every other
part ofthe house free from i, lection.
s. The discharges from the
bowels and kidneys of the patient
should be received into vessels
charged with disinfectantS, such
as the solution of carbolic acid or
chloride of lime, and Immediately
removed. By these means the
poison thrown of from internal
surfaces may be rendered inert,
and deprived of the power ofprop.
agating the disease.
9. The thin skin or cuticle
which Peels off from the hands,
face, and other parts of the body
in convalescent patients is highly
contagious. The plan recommend,
ed tor preventing the poison from
the skin being disseminated
through the air is to rub oil or
lard all oyer the skin. This prac-
| tice is to commence on the fourth
day after the appearance of the
eruption, and to becontinued every
day until the patient is well enough
to take a warm bath. These baths
should be administered every 9TH
er day for four times, when the
disinfection of tie skin may be
regarded as complete. This, how
ever, should not be done without
first consulting the medical attend
ant. The foregoing directions will
apply to all kinds of fever, small
pox, and other contagious diseases.
MODE OF DISINFECTING A SICK ROOM.
Thepatient having been removed,
all linen articles, such as sheets,
towels, pillow cases, and body lin
en-, ale to be disinfected as by d.
rection No. 3. This done, the
blankets, counterpanes, and wool
en- articles of clothing are to be
suspended on a line, and the mat
tresses and beds placed over the
backs of chairs furniture is also
to be removed from the walls, the
windows closed, and paper pasted
over the creviceS the opening of
.bo frool,o,. GO alec 20 H. oAoo1,,