The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-12-25
DEADLY DIPTHERIA.
us Prevalence in New York and Other
Cities.


Gt. Prevalence In New York and Other
cities.
In view OF the slarming spread OF
diptheria in that city, the New York
board Of health hes made thorough
inspection of that city through its san
itary corps, and has during the past
week been busy disinfecting places
where contagious diseases were found.
Three hundred persons have died OF
diptheFia within the past two weeks; OF
scarlet fever a hundred, and OF small
pox one hundred End thirty, with q
marked increase in the mortality of in
fants and tbs sudden death of aged per
sons. The report of the board says :
"While scarlatina, smallpox. and ente-
ric tever are scourging numerous cities
in England, fiptheria is now prevailing
in about half the -ities in which this
bureau holds correspondence in the
United States, and it is more iatal in
numerous interior towns and cities than
it is in this city, where its increase
seems to be stayed. No other infectious
malady more imperatively demands the
best resources Of medical and sanitary
knowledge to limit its prevalence and
save life. Sanitary precautions have
supreme importance in this disease" "
DR.. Harris, register Of vital statistics,
comes to the conclusion that diptheria
is contagious disease, though not SO
markedly 80 as scarlet fever. IL attacks
bv preference children between one and
ten years OF age. All classes are liable
to attacks OF diptheria where it is pre-
vailing. Those suffer most severely who
live upon low, vet ground, IN houses
With imoerfect drainage, or surrounded
by offensive matter, in damp rooms and
cellars. in over-crowGed and illy-ventil-
lated apartments. Diptheri5 is not af-
fected by either snow or rain, cold or
heat, or drouth. The precautions TO be
taken are in some measures like those
in smallpox.
Every kind and source Of filth around
and in the house should be thoroughly
removed. Cellars and foul areas shc uld
be cIeansed and disinfected, drains
should be put in perfect order, dirty
walls and ceilings should be limewashed,
and every occupied room should be
thoroughly ventilated. Apartments
which have been occupied by persons
sick with diptheria should be cleansed
with disinfectants, ceilings limewashed,
aud woodwork painted; tho carpets,
bed clothing, upholstered furniture, ex-
posed many dGvh to fresh air, and the
rooms exposed to currents of fresh air
ior at least one week before reOccupa-
ton. No child should be allOyed to
kiss strange children, nor those suffering
from sore throat, nor should a child sleep
with, or be confined 10 rooms occupied
by, or use articles, such as toys, taken
in the mouth, handkerchiefs belonging
10 children having sore throat, Group
or catarrh. II the weather should be
cold, the child should be warmly clad
in hanneIs. When diptheria is in the
house or in the family the well children
should be scrupuIously kept apart from
the sick, in dry, well-aired rooms, and
every possible source of infection
through the air, by personal contact
with the sick, and by articles used about
them or in their rooms should be rig
idly guarded. Every attack of sore
throat, Group and catarrh should be at
tended to at once. The feeble should
have invigorating food and treatment.
The sick should be rigidly isolated in
we'll aired, well-lighted rooms, the over
flow of air being as far as possible
through the external windows by do
pressing the upper and elevating the
lower sash, or chimney heated by fire in
an open fireplace. All discharges from
the mouth and nostrils should be re-
ceived III vessels containing disinfect-
ants. as solutions of carbolic acid or
sulphate of zinc, or upon cloths which
are Immediately burned, or, if not
burned, thoroughly boiled or placed IN
d T disinfecting fluid.