Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-01-15

| Dphtber.a has become epidemic IN Brook
Ism a. We'll a in New York, and much
alarm is caused by its rayase-. hedi-eass
| Is an exceedingly dangerous one, the mor-
ta.ity FROM It being very large, and As
sporadic cases arc continually occurring in
nearly al localities, It's nature and the
means Of preventing or checking it ought
to be generally known. We copy, there
fore. y Toceut report On tie subject made
to the New York board Of health by the
sanitary c3mnittec Of that body:
Diphthe-ia i caused by the incubation Of
| theair passages with the diphtheritic poison.
which from tAis point lniects the whole
system. The local Inflammation i attended
with the formal on Of membrane (exuda-
ti0a). The lever a NJ general symptoms are
| the result of this lOc.d injection. Dlphtheria
is therefore a contasil us disease (not. per-
haps, a. markedly 50 rs the scarlet feyer),
induced by contact with objects and per-
sons infected. 1t may DC diifu-3d by the
exhalations Of the sick and the air sur
rounding them. or directly 10y the
oxidation. as in the act Of kiss
ing, coughing, splitting. Sneezlng,
or by the infected articles used, ~ towels,
napkins. handkerchiefs, az. The poison
clings with great tenacIty u eerta!ns places,
rooms. anu houses, where 10 may occasion
eases after a lapse OF months Ia ordinary
attacks the poison begins to act The moment
1t lodges under the tissues, but, Ike vac
cinatiOn. causes slight sensible effects Tor
from TWO TO five days Then there Is marked I
prostration, drynes- Of the tnr1at and |
Drickng pain IN swallowing. The throat |
becomes red and patches OF white oxidation |
appear. The glands OF the neck SWEET Ia /
mild cases these symptoms -ub>iGe On the /
third or fourth day after their appearA ice. /
Ii more severe, these symptoms may be p-o- (
longed and the fever Increases, the local in |
Aamation spreads. and oxidation rapidly I
follows. GiphthCria attacks by preference !
children between the the ages OF one and ten
years, the greatest mortality being IN the
second. thirl and fourth years; children OF
feeble constitutions, and those weakened by
previous >irEae-s. and those Suffering from
catGrrh. Group ami other forms OF throat al
iectiOn> AL classes are liable % attacks OF
diphtheria where Il IS prevailing, but
those sGAtr most severely who live upon
low, wet ground, IN houses with Imper-
sect drainage, OF surrounded by offensive
natter, or damp rooms and cellars, in over
crowded and illy-ventilated apartments.
Diphtheria is not affected by either snow or
rain, cold or heat. or drouth. The pre-
cautions suggested are cleanliness in and
around the dwelling, and pure air IN li7ing
and sleeping ROOMS are Os the utmost IN
pOrtancc wherever any contagious disease J.
prevailing, as cleanliness tends beth I'd pre-
vent and mitigate T. Every / nj and
source of filth around aad in the house
should be thorou giily removed. Cellars and
foul areas should be cle;nsed and disin-
fected, drains should be put in perfect or
der. dirty walls ami ceilings should be lime-
washed. and every occupied room SHOULD ne
thoroughly ventilated. apartments which r
have been occupied by persons sick with
iiphtheria should be cleansed with disin-
ceilings lime-washcd, and wood
work painted the carpets, beG-clothing, /
Upholstered furniture, etc, exposed many {
lays 10 fresh air, and the rooms exposed to :
urrents OF fresh air for at least one week
,efore occupation. No child should be al /
owed to kiss strange children, nor those !
offering from sore throat, 1.-THE disgusting !
ustom of compelling children to kiss !
very VII itOr is well cOntrived method Oi d
other grave diseases than '
liphtheria. nor should n child sleep with, /
' be confine 10 rooms occupied by, or use
r, cles such as toys, taken in the mouth, i
an serchies, etc, belonging to children i
avn e sore tlrout, Group or catarrh. II the t
cath n should he cold the child should be c
ARMY clad in tlannels. When diphtheria T
in the house. or in the family, the well r
lildren bould be ernpuleusly kept apart :
ON the sick, in dry, well aired rooms and t
cry possible source OF Injection through Z
&c air, by personal conti CT with the SICK, h
Id by articles used about hsm. or IN their a
oms, should be rigidly gu srded. Every d
tack of sore throat, Group ana eatarrh d
ould be attended 10 at once. The feeble IL
ould have inyigorating food an treat,
ent. The sick should be rigidly l. Viatea
well-aired, (the air being entirely cha Nged Il
least hourly, weli-lghted rooms, ne 4
tflow of air being as far as possib. e "
rough the external windows by depress- *
g the upper and elevating the lower sash, &.
chimney heated by a fire in an open ,
eplace. All discharges from the mouth n,
d nostrils. should be received into vessels so
disinfectants, as solutions of car IN
lie acid or snlphate of zinc, or upon III,
this which are Immediately burned, or, if da
t burned, thoroughly boiled or placed VIC
der disinfecting fluid. tn,