The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-12-14
Diphtheria.
CIRCULAR FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.

CIRCULAR FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
In view of the fact that liphtheria
although now less prevalent than in the
colder months, may be expected to Wis.
it a portion of our state during the all.
tumn and winter, it seems important
that more thorough attempts to contro
the disease should be made by the loca
authorities.
In the first place, as diphthcria is q
contagious disease, and under certain
circumstances not entirely known, very
highly so, ii is important that all prac
ticablc means should be taken to separ
ate the sick from the well. As it |,
also infectious, wooden clothes, carpets
curtains, hangings, etc., should bt
avoided in the sick room, and only sucl
materials used as can be readily washed
All clothes, when removed from the
patient should Dc at onoc placed in lu
water. Observation-Disclosures should
be laid aside, and in their stead sofl
pieces of linen or cotton cloth should bC
used, and ut once burned.
Disinfcctants should always be placed
in the vessel containing the expectora
tion, and may DC used somewhat freely
in the sick-room; those being especially
useful which destroy bad odOrs without
causing others (nitratc of lead. chloride
of zinc, etc.)
In schools there should be especial
supervision, as the disease is often SC
mild in its early stages as not to attract
common attention; and no child should
be allowed to attend school from an i'm.
fected house, until allowed to do so by
competent physician.
In the case of young children, all
reasonable care should be taken to pre-
vent undue exposure to the cold.
Pure water for drinking should bt
used, avoiding contaminated sources Of
supply; ventilation should be insisted
on, and local drainage must be careful.
ly attended to. In country towns, pri
vics and ccsspools should be frequently
emptied and disinfected; slop-watci
should not be allowed to soak into the
surface of the ground near dwelling
houses, and the cellars should be ken,
dry and sweet.
In cities, especially in tidal districts
basins, baths, etc., rs now connected
with drains, should never communicate
directly with sleeping rooms. In view
of the fact that the majority of oul
houses are improperly supplied with
local drainage, and that this is probably
at least as great source of disease as
bad sewers; in view of the fact, too
that many cities are likely to appoint
boards of health by virtue of the author.
ity conveyed upon them by Chapter 13s
of the Acts of the General Court OF
1877, the Board desire to call attention
to the following important section OF
that Act:-
"Section 5. Said boards of health and
the board of health of the city of Bos-
ton, in addition to the powers conferred
upon them by existing statutes, are
hereby authorized to prepare and ell
force, in their respective cities, such
regulations as they may deem necessary
for the safety and health of the people
with reference to house drainage, aud
its connection with public sewers,
where such connection is made"
In all cases of diphtheria, fully as
great care should be taken i'm disinfect.
ing the sick-room, after use, as i'm scar
let fever.
After a death from diphthcria, the
clothing disuscd should be burned OF
exposed to nearly or quite a heat OF
boiling water; the body should be plac.
ed as early as practicable in the coffin,
with disinfectants, and the coffin should
be tightly closed.
Children at least, and better adults,
also, in most cases, should not attend q
funeral from house in which a death
from diphthcria has occurred. But
with suitable precautions, it is not nee.
cssary that the funeral should be pri.
vatc, provided the corpse be not in any
way exposed.
Although ii is not at present possible
to remove at once all sources of epidem.
ic disease, yet the frequent visitation OF
such disease, and especially its contin.
ued prevalence, may be taken as suffi.
cicnt evidence of insanitary surround
ings and of sources of sickness, TO {
certain extent prcventablc.
1t should be distinctly understood
that no amount of artificial "disinfec
ton can ever take the place of pure
air, good water, and proper drainage
which cannot be gained without promp
and efficient removal of all filth, wheth
er from slaughter houses, etc., publ,
buildings, crowded tcncments, or pri
vate residences. In the opinion of the
Board, this is likely to be done onl,
through Independent local boards o
health, the appointment of which in al
cases we most respectfully, but earnest
ly. urge upon the citizens of the state.
We have the honor tc be,
Very respectfully yours,
HENRY l. BOwDITcu,
ROBERT Il. DAVIS,
RICHARD FROTHINGHAM,
DAVID l.. WEBSTER,
JOHN &. HoADLEY,
THOMAS B. NEwHALL,
CHARLES f. FOLSOM,
Members of the State Board of Health