Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-23

II
be found TO contain timely and valuable sugges-
tons:
The American Public Health Association. by
its executive COMMITTEES, submits the following
memorandum respecting the most available
means for arresting and preventing the fatal
prevalence of Asiatic cholera or malignant
cholera IN this country:
The prev alence of this disease at several places
In the Mississippi valley is undisputed. Its pro-
gress from New Orleans TO Memphis and Nash
Vile has been rapid, and is significant of its
ward tendency. That il is being propa gated
as in former yisitatons, by the excremental
discharges of persons affected by the choleraic
poison, aided by local causes, is as true now as
in the former yisitations.
To combat and arrest the progress, and pre-
vent The epidemic prevalence of this scourge
OF sanitary negligence, It Is ara town should
promptly resort to the most effectual puridca-
ton, and the best known means Of disinfection,
aoG shan lhs a. far ar possbe sna
before any cases of cholera occur; and that In
the presence of thsdiseasc, these sanitary duties
should be enforced in every household, and
throughout the entire district. Experience has
proved that the best way to prevent both pesti-
lence and panic is to know and prepare for the
danger 1t is the only way to deal successfully
with cholera.
SANITARY CLEANSING.
The local conditions that chiefly promote the
outbreaks and propagation Of cholera are:
/. Neglected privies.
2. Filth-sOdden grounds.
3. Foul cellars and filthy or badly drained
surroundings of dwellings.
4. Foul and Distracted house drains.
B. Decaying and putrescent materials,
whether animal or vegetable.
6. Uhyentilated, damp and uncleansed dwell.
lings and apartments.
These localizing causes of cholera should be
promptly and very thoroughly removed before
a case of the disease appears in the town dis
trict; and if any sources of putrescence or of
excessive moisture remain even these should
be controlled by the proper cleansing and dis
Thorough scavengng and surface drainage,
with the application at the same time of quick
lime and coal tar crude carbolic acid; white.
washing with fresh quick-lime; the cleansing
and thorough drying and ventilation Of cellars,
Easements, chambers, and closets, and daily
care to cleanse, flush, ventilate, and purify the
sources OF defilement about all inhabited prem
ises, will afford almost complete protection II
suitable care is taken OF
PERSONAL HEALTH.
The security of personal health requires pure
drinking water. fresh and substantial food, tenn
perance, and the needed rest and bathing Of
the body.
DESTRUCTION AND DIsIN FEcTANTs.
The principles relating to disinfection as a
means of destroying the propagating or infec-
tious cause ofcholera-the .'chelera contagium"
are readily understood, and may be so explained
own Immunity against the introduction and
spread of the disease. For popular use we APP
pend a brief statement of these principles at the
end of this circular; and We respectfully recon-
mend that the statement and the following
schedule of rules and methods be given to the
p ess, and to all principals OF schools, superin-
tcndt nts OF places OF public resort, railroad
depOts. ferries, hotels, and public institutions;
and to The masters OF ships and steamboats,, and
the conductors of passenger trains throughout
this continent; believing, as we do, that, by the
timely application of these measures, the preva-
lence Of cholera may be prevented.
RULES AND METHODS OF DIsINFBCrIoN.
For privies, water closets, drains and sewers
eight or ten pounds of sulphate of iron "copper"
NV N & nv GA n at wi
half pint Of crude carbolic acid added to the So
luton and briskly stirred, makes the cheapest
and best disinfeeting fluid for common use: 1t
can be procured in every town and by any fam
lily, and if the carbolic acid Is not at hand the
solution of copperas may be used without it.
To prevent privies and water-closets from
becoming infected or offensive-Pour pint of
this sti ong solution into every water closet pan
or privy seat once or twice day.
To disinfect masses of filth, privy-vaults,
sewers and Enthusiastically pour in this so
luton until it reaches and dsinfects all the foul
material.
For the chamber-vessels used by the sick, and
for the dsinfectOn OF ground upon which any
excremental matter has been cast away, for
dsinfecting extensive masses surfaces of
putrescent materials, and for drains, sewers and
ditcIhes' the dead OIL Of coal tar or coal-taI
disinfectng paint upon the walls of cellars,
stables. and open drains.
Quicklime Is used as an absorbent and dryer
upon such walls and in damp places, and
whitewashing with it should be practiced in
common tenements, factories, Easements, clos
cts and garrets
To disinfect the clothing deiled in any man.
ner by excremental matters from the sick,
throw all such articles immedi ately into boiling
water, and continue the boiling for half an
hour, or place them In a solution. covered,
made as follows: pound of sulphate OF zinc
or gallons Of water, to which add or 3
ounces Of pure, strong carbolic acid.
Keep the soiled articles saturated until they
can be boiled. If tie acid is not at hand use
the zinc water alone.
Apartments. bedding, and upholstery that
have been used by the sick with cholera, diar-
rhea, should be fumigated by the burning of
several pounds OF birthstone (sulphur) upon a
defended iron pan, with the place tightly shut
for several hours, under physicians drec-
tons.
PRINCIPLES AND DUTIES TO BE TAUGHT.
First. That thorough cleanliness, domestic
and civic, and an abundant supply Of pur
water, are an essential means Of preventin
cholera in any household, when the disease is
near.
Second. That general cleansing, scavenging,
and disinfection should be attended 10 in every
city and town before cholera makes its appear
ance, and that wherever it does appear, that
house and the exposed premises should be kept
Third. That in the words Of the chief medical
officer of Great Britain, - 1t appears to be char
acterstic Of cholera, not only Of the disease In
ICE devsopea ana alarming FORM b1t equally
| can produce, that ali matters which the patient
discharges from his stomach and bowels are in
| fective; that the patients power Of injecting
| nom other persons Is represented almost or
quite exclusively by those discharges; that they
| are comparatively non infective at the moment
they are discharged, but Afterwards, when un-
mum infective power; and that IL they be cast
| away without previous disinfection, they impart
their own infective quality to the excremental
| earth, or in repositories and conduits of filth,
| and the effiuvia which those excremental mat
tiers evolve; that If the infective material, by