New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-27
Memorandum ON Cholera.

by it's executive committee, submits the
following memorandum respecting the most
available means for arresting and prevent
ing the fatal prevalence Of malignant chol.
era in this country:
SANITARY CLEANSING.
The local conditions that chiefly promote
the outbreaks and propagation Of cholera.
are:
l. Neglected privies. g Filth .=odden
grounds. Foul cellars. and filthy and
badly drained surroundings Of dwellings,
4. Foul and obstructed house drains. ). De.
caylng and putrescent materials, whe ther
animal or vegetable. 6. Unventia ted,
damp and uncleansed dwellings and apart
menrs.
These locaiizing causes of cholera should
De promptly and very thoroughly removed
before a case of the disease appears IN the
town or district; and if any sources of pu.
trescence, or OF excessive moisture remain,
these should be controlled by the proper
cleansing drying, and disnfectiOn.
Thorough scavenging and surface drain
age, with the application. at the same time.
OF quick lime and coal tar or crude car
boilc acid; whitewashing with fresh quick
lime; the cleansing and thorough drying
and ventilation of cellars, Easements. cham
DCAo ouu CAOSCL6s duu udlS care W CltduSt,
flush, ventilate and purify the sources of
detilement about all Inhabited premises.
will afford almost complete protection if
suitable care is taken of personal he3th.
The security OF personal health requires
pure drinking water, fresh and substantial
food, temperance, and the needed rest and
bathing OF the body.
DIsINFECTION AND DIs,NFECrANTs.
The principles relating to disinfection as
means Of destroying the prOpagating or
infectious cause OF cholera, and arresting
putrefactiOn, are readily understood and
may be so explained to any family that the
household may insure its immunity against
the introduction and spread of the disease.
For popular use we append a brief state
ment of these principles at the end Of this
circular; and we respectfully recommend
that the statement, and the following rules
and methods, be given to the press and to
all principals of schools, superintendents 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 and continued appli
cation Of these measures the prevalence of
cholera may be prevented. But let the fact
be remembered that there can be no srbsti
sNeSo AoA sAOAou40 SACSAo-AS SAU "A OoA OAA'
RULES AND METHODS OF Dls1NFECrIoN.
For privies, water-closets, drains and
sewers, eight or ten pounds of sulphate Of
iron (c0pperas) dissolved in five or six gal
Ions of water, half pint Of crude carbol;c
acid added TO the solution and briskly
stirred, makes the cheapest and best disin-
fectant fluid for common use. 1t can be
procured in every town and by any family,
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 strong solution into every water
closet pan or privy seat once or twice a day.
To disinfect masses of filth, privy vaults,
sewers and drains, gradually pour in this
solution until it reaches and disintects all
the foul material.
For the chamber vessels used by the sick,
and for the disinfection OF ground upon
which any excremental matter has been
cast away, use the solution of cOpperas and
carbolic acid; and, for disinfecting extensive
masses or surfaces of putrescent materials,
and for drains, sewers and bitches, this dlsin-
fecting fluid may be used, or the "dead OIL
("heavy Oir') OF coal tar, or coal tar itself;
coal tar may be used as a paint upon the
walls Of cellars, stables and open drains.
Other disinfectants, such as the solutions
zinc are etfectual in privies aud drains, and
upon foul surfaces and offensive materials
Quick lime Is useful as an absorbent and
dryer upon foul walls and in damp places,
and whitewashinS with it should be prac-
ticed in common tenements. factories, base
Ments, closets and garrets
To disinfect the clothing or bedding de-
filed in any manner by excremental matters
from the sick, throw them into solution
do fnllnUS. Tine Mound Of snInh a q of
zinc to six or eight gallons OF water, 70
which add two or three ounces of pure and
strong carbolic acid-such articles to remain
therein at least half an hour; then imme-
diately place them in boiling water, and
continue boiling If the acid is not at
hand, then use the solution OF zinc in water.
The same disinfecting solution is excellent
for bed pans and chamber vessels, and for
soiled floors or defled surfaces.
Apartments, bedding and upholstery that
have been used by the sick with cholera or
diarrhea, should be thoroughly cleansed
and disinfected.
I. That thorough cleanliness, domestic
and civic, and an abundant supply of pure
water are essential means OF preventing
cholera in any household when the disease
is near.
2. That general cleansing, scaveng ging
and disinfection should be attended to in
every city and town before cholera makes
its appearance; and that whenever it does
appear, that house and the exposed pre- III.
ises shou Id be constantly disintected.
3. That, whatever differences of opinion
| there may be respecting the epidemic phe-
| nomena of different periods, the paramount
importance of thorough cleanliness and dis
! infection is to be kept in mind: and that,
~, 1snc IS
| Great Britain. 1T appears to be character
! istic of cholera, not only OF the disease in
| its developed and alarming form, but equal
! ly of the slightest diarrhea which the cpl
demic can produce, that all matters
| which the patient discharges from his
| stomach and bowels are infective; that the
patients power of injecting other persons
| is represented almost or quite exclusively
by those discharges: that they are com
paratively nOn-intective at the moment
| they are discharged. but afterward. when
| undergoing decomposition, acquire their
maximum infective power; and that it they
| be cast away without previous disinfection.
| they impart their own ;ntectiye quality to
| the excremental matters with which
! they mingle in tiltl-sOdden earth, or in de-
positOries and conduits OF filth, and to the
etfluvia which those eXcremental matters
! evolve; that if the infectiye material, by
! leakage or soakage from drains or cess
pools, or otherwise, gets access. even in the
| smallest quantity, directly, or through
porous soil, TO wells OK other sources OF
drinking water, it can infect. in the most
dangerous manner, very large volumes of
water: that the infective influence Of the
choleraic discharges attaches to whatever
| bedding. clothing and Ike things have
| been imbued with them, and renders these
things. if not disinfected, capable OF spread
ing the disease.
1. Cleansing and purity. skillful tiisinfec-
ton. temperate habits, and wholesome diet
with pure water and fresh air. are the
trusted and sure means of health and secu.
rlty in all places and for all classes of peo.
pie when exposed to the causes of cholera.