The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-02-07

County and City Official Press.
Wednesday. Febr'y Z, 1877.
.pHE DIPHTHERIA.


eeiya accounts Of the rsvages Of this
seourge, mote inndious thsn the small
,nx. and in the case of children more
fatal. The disease seems 10 be eslectic
in It's character, and TO slowly circle
sbou. a. if in obedience to some myste-
rious law Of death, IS deadly current
leaving its victims dead in its path as
il passes. In this city, it has taken
particular localities one a. time
s<riatim, passing gradually from one
ward 10 another. though 1t has oeen
the verse in the older part IF the town
whore the sewerage has been the Ion
gest neglected. In Oregon, the mos.
cases reported have been in Salem,
Brownsville aud Yamhill counties while
Portland 80 far has enjoyed MI immu-
nifty. On the other side of the noun
tains IL has claimed great many vic
Tins. /. has also been very fatal III
California, Iowa and other States. also
in Europe. The subloined item from
IN Iowa paper will convey an idea Of
its yirulence there:
"The rage of this fearful disease in
Fort Dodge and vicinity during the
past fe.y months has been terrible. and
the loss of life from it has been fright
ful in the highest degree. Since it be-
gan its course. ninety four collins have
been furnished by Lanfersweiler 4
Young for its victims. all Of these being
in this county and by far the largest
proportion being residents Of this city.
It il 40 wonder that people are almost
panic stricken. md oil should feel the
urgent need Of using every preeantion
against it,"
During the prevalence Of this dis
ease in our midst. the following sugses-
tions by the Sanitary Committee Of the
New York Board Of Health will be of
value TO ell families in which there are
children liable to attack:
"Diphtheria is caused by the inocula-
ton Of the cir passage with the dIph-
thcritic poison. which from this point
infects the whole system the local in
fsmation is attended with the forma.
ton Of membrane (exudation.) the fe-
yer and general symptoms are the result
Of the local infection.
''Diphtheris is therefore contagious
disease mot perhaps as marked as scar
lot fevcr) induced by contact with OBJ
jects and persons infected. 1t may be
difFused by the cxhalations OF .hc sick
and the cir surrounding them; or di-
rectly by the emulation. AZ in the act Of
kissing. coughing. splitting, sneezing /;
or by the infected articles used. as tow
els. napkins. handerchiefs. etc. The
poison ciings with great tenaoity to GER
tain places. rooms. houses. where it may
occasion cases after the lapse Of months.
In ordinary attacks the poison begins
10 act the moment it lodges upon the
Tissues; but like vaccination. at first
causes but slight sensible effects In
from two 10 Eve days there is marked
proatration, dryness Of throat. aud
pricking pain in swallowing; the throat
becomes red. and patches Of white cxu-
dation appear. aud the glands of the
neck swell. In mild cases these symp-
toms snbside on the third or fourth day
from the appearance if more severe.
these symptoms may be prolonged, if
unfaverable, the fever increases. the To-
col Inflammation spreads. and exhans-
ton rapidly follows.
"Diphtheria attacks by preference
children between the ages Of one and
ten years, the greatest mortality being
in the second, third. aud fourth years;
children Of feeble constitution. aud
those weakened by previous sickness.
and those suffering from eatarrh. Group.
and other forms Of throat affections.
"All classes are liable TO diphtheria
where il is prevailing, but those suffer
fsost severely Who livs on low wet
grounds ia houses with imperfect
drains. or surrounded by offensive mat
ters. - priv,es. decsying animal or
vegetable rsfsss in damp ROOMS. rs
CELLAR: in overcrowded and uaysnti-
lated apartments.
"DiPhtheria 10 not affected by either
heat or cold.
"Cieanlincss in aud around the dwell
Ing. and pure air in living and sleeping
rooms. are of the utmos, Importance
wherever contagious disease is prevail
ing, ~ cleanliness tends both 60 prevent
and mitigate it. Every kind aud source
OF 9Th around and IN the house
should be thoroughly removed cellars
aud foul areas should nc cleaned and
dssinfcCtcd. drains should be put in
perfect repair dirty wells aud ceiling.
should be white washe,i. and every oc-
capaed room should be thoroughly ven
tilatcd Apartments which have been
occupied by persons sick with dipihe-
ria sheuld be oleansed with disinfec,aut<.
ceilings hmewashed. ani upholstered
furniture. etc. exposed many days 10
fresh AR aud sunlight ,sll articles which
may Re boiled and subjected 10 high
degrees of heat should be thus di,in
fetedl. Such rooms should be exposed
TO currents Of ftesh air. sor al leas, enc
week before ~ occupation
"When iirhtheria Is prevailing. 90
child shoald b. allowed 10 kiss strange
children nor those Suffering from sors
,hrca, (,he disgusting cus,ons Of com-
polling eh,ldrea Ia kiss visitors is
we'll cor,rived method Of propags;iug
other grAver diseases than diph,hrriA'
nor should it sleep with or he confined
io rooms occupied by. ar use articles. rs
toys. taken into the mouth, hanaker-
chieis. etc. belonging IN children hsv-
ING sore throat. Group. or ea;Arrah. If