The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-12-08
Directions for Preventing the Spread of
Infectious Diseases.

Directions for Preventing the Spread of
Infectious Diseases.
MEASLES TYPHUs FEVER, ENTERIC (TY-
PHoID OR GAsTRIc) FEVER, wHooPING
COUGH, DIPTHERIA, ETC.
General Directions.-1. When a case of
infectious disease occurs in house.
The following precautions should be
taken:
/. Isolate the person affected as much
as possible from the other inmates of the
house.
This is most readily effected by at once
removing him to an upper room, if circum
stances permit. The room selected should
be large and airy, and the means of veuti-
latng it, which shall be presently men
toned, at once adopted.
2. Before removing the patient, the fol
lowing preparations ought to be made in
the room:
All supertluous curtains, carpets, wooden
articles, unnecessary clothing-n short,
everything likely to retain infection, should
be at once removed.
3. The patients bed ought to be placed
as to allow of free current of air around
it, but not so as to place it in draught.
4. The room must be kept well venti-
lated, under the physicians directions, by
means either of fire when required) or
an open fireplace and chimney, and of
windows opening to the external air. By
means of the latter, ventilation is most
effectualy procured, SO as to avoid
draughts, in the following manner:
Raise the lower sash of the window three
or four inches then procure piece of
wood made to fit accurately into the lower
opening, and place it there. By these
means free outward and inward currents
OF aiT-wthout causing any draughts-are
obtained through the vacant space between
the two sashes. When window is merely
opened from the upper Or lower sash,
draughts are invariably caused.
ii. After removing of the patient to the
room in which he is to remain, the outside
of the door and door. posts should be com
pletely covered by sheet kept constantly
wetted with some disinfecting fluid, such
as carbolic acid, etc.
,. The room must be kept scrupulously
clean. Before being swept, which should
be done daily, if possible, the floor should
be sprinkled with disinfecting powders,
with weak solution of one of the disin
fecting fluids already mentioned.
). Vessels containing disinfectng fluids
should be placed in the room for the recep
ton of all bed and body linen, towels,
handkerchiefs, etc, Immediately on being
removed from the patient, and on no ac-
count should they be washed along with
other household articles.
1. Dsinfectants should also be placed in
all the chamber utensils used by the patient,
and, after use, more disinfecting ilud
should be added, and the whole contents.
ii possible, should be Immediately buried.
No chamber vessel should be allowed to re
main in the room after having been used.
}. All plates. cups, glasses, etc which
have been used by the patient, should be
rinsed with some disinfectant before being
washed; and on no account should any
vessels used in the sick room he washed
along with other things, unless previously
thoroughly disinfected.
g. Attendants on the sick should not
wear WOODEN dresses, but only those made
of washing materials.
7. Basins containing water, to which
some disinfectant has been added, should
always be at hand for the benefit of the at
PENDANTS on the sick, who should not be
sparing of their use.
8. No article of food or drink from the
sick room should be consumed by other
persons.
.. Visitors to the sick room, except in
the case of clergymen and medical men,
should be peremptorily forbidden; and
they, when necessarily present, should, on
leaving, wash their hands in water to which
a disiufectant has been added, and have as
little immediate communication with others
as possible.
III. When a death from infectious dis
ease occurs, the body should be at once
placed in a coffin and sprinkled with some
disnfectiDg fluid or powder, such as chlor-
ide of lime, etc. and buried with the least
possible delay.
.. On no account whatever should it be
allowed to remain in a room occupied by
living persons.
". On the termination of case of in
fictitious disease, either when the patient is
pronounced free from infection, or, in the
event of death, after the removal of the
body, the sick room and its contents should
be throughly cleanSed and disinfected.
2. The bed and bed clothes, and all wear
ing apparel used by the attendants or pa
tient, should be thoroughly disinfected
V. In houses where of infectious
disease occurs, no washing, tailoring, dress
making, nor any similar occupation, ought
to be carried on.
2. No milk or food of any kind should
be supplied from infected houses.
). Children from infected houses should
not be allowed to attend schools, and all
persons from infected houses should have
as little communication as possible with
others, either in private houses or in public
places, such as railways, omnibuses, public
houses, churches, etc.
4. Any accumulation Of filth or refuse
of any kind should be at once removed
from or about the premises, aud disinfect-
ants freely used. If this cannot be done
by the persons themselves, immediate no.
tce should be given the town authorities.
}. The existence of nuisances of any
kind and wheresoever situated should be at
once reported to the town authorities.
VI. During the prevalence of epidemic,
infectious or contagious diseases, it becomes
specially important that the general laws
regarding the preservation of health should
be rigidly attended to.
,. Implicit trust should not be placed in
SO called "disinfectants.' They are very
useful when judiciously employed, but are
by no means certain "preventves of dis
ease"
). Pure air, pure water, warm clothing
and good food should always be obtained
if possible. By their constant use less
chance is afforded for an invasion of dis
ease.
4 Temperance both in eating and drink
ing is essential for the maintenance of
health and the prevention of disease.
j. Overcrowding in houses workshops
or schools should be strictly prohibited.
6. All houses, cottages, schools and pub
lie rooms should be kept clean and well
ventilated; and frequent use of lime wash
ing on the walls and ceilings should be
made.