The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-03-25
The Scarlet Fever

As y means of lessening the spread of
this highly contagious disease, the Medical
Gazette publ; hes the suhjoined pfecau-
,iolis, which h#9 been satisfactorily tested
IN En3t3:.5, L. Z very largo number Of in
,ItnccS:
/. On the first appearance Of tie disease.
g!.c patient shon!d he placed in q separate
apartment, H rear the top Of the house as
possiblr. fen which all curtains, carpets
bed hangings and other needless articles OF
furnit~re Should be removed, and no per-
con, except the medical attendant ard the
nurse Or mother permitted, to enter the
room.
2. a basin containing y s~otuti"r OF chic
ri0e of lime or carboiic acid should be
placed near the bed for the patient to spit
in.
2. A large vessel containing water, into
wi.irh has been poured either Condys
fnia or toe solution Of chloride Of soda or
lime should be kept in the room, and into
this all tie bed and body linen IN the
room. as soon as it is removed from the
natlent. ana all sojled towels, NC, should
lie placed having been kept there some
tia,t, tie things my be removed and sent
t, the iaunaresS.
4 Observation-Disclosures should not be
used, but pieces Of rag should be used IN
stead, for wiping the mouth and nose Of
The patient; each piece, after being once
used, should be Immediately burned.
8. A plentiful supply OF |ater ana tow
els should be kept for the use Of the nurse,
whose hands will OF necessity become soil
ed BY tne >ecretions Of the patient; in one
hand basin the water should he impTegna-
ted with Condy's fluid or chiorides, by
which the faint on the hands may be al
once removed.
g.. All glasses, plates, caps, OF other
vessels used IN. the sick room, should be
scrapoiously e~leansed in boiling water, be-
fore helag used by other persons.
Z. Outside the door Of the sick chamber
Il sheet should be suspended so as to cover
the entire doorway should be kept con-
stantlF wet with a solution Of carbolic acid
or chloride Of line-The effect OF this will
be to keep every other part Of the house
free from Infection.
s. The discharges from the bowels and
kidneys Of tie patient should be received
into vessels charged with disinfectants,
such as the solution Of cafholic acid or
chloride OF lime, and Immediately removed.
BY these means the poison thrown off from
the internal surfaces may be rendered
inert, and deprived of The power of propa-
eating The disease.
9. The thin skin Of the euticle which
peels OF from the hands, face, and other
parts Of the body in eonvalescent patients,
is highly contagious. The plan recommen
dcd for preyepting the poison from the
skin being disseminated through the air
is to rub oil or lard all over the skin. This
practice to commence on the fourth DAY
after the appearance Of the eruption, and
to be continued every day until the patient
~ well enough to take q warm bath =
These baths should be administered every
other day four times, When the distinction
of the skin may be regarded as complete,
This, however, should not be done without
first consulting the medical attendant.
The foregoing directions will apply 70 all
kinds Of fever, smallpox, and other eonta-
gious diseases.