The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-15
DIPllTIIERlA ~ BROOKLYN.
:BE D.frra}. uFr5 yNtoif DISGISE
.iND 5CIHIHI fY.tI.R.


.iND 5CiHI&l fY.tI.R.
The Health Authorities rrying to Prevent
Contnuion-D Death from Defective Drainage
How 10 Avoid Disease An .intidote.
Brooklyn physicians agree That diph-
iberia is very prevalent in that city. Some say
that the disease is local. others that il Is a blood
poisoning. and there arc still other theories
Letters have been addressed to THE SuN in
curing for some remedy for diphthcria similar
to THE SUN cholera miXturc.
After consultation with experienced physi-
clans it has been found imprarticablc 10 pre-
scribe such a remedy. The Physicians say TINT
a sure token of diphthcra IL white botch in
the throat like spot Of white paint. Tho
sufferer should be at once put to bed. and be
well nourshed with good food and wine. They
say avoid any remedies that may tend TO wcak-
on the patient. as it is emincntly necessary that
tho strength should be sustained
In scarlet fever. which is still moro prevalent.
the sufferers should be well nursed until the
arrival Of the physician. who should be sum-
moncd Mt once.
The following is n record of the number Of
cases Of those contagious diseases in Brooklyn
In the past six weeks
E sssaisiss 9 I Z 3: q &
Tho deaths were as follows:
E Rsssfs,. !. & ; x
The proportion Of deaths thus appears to be
ono in four. This would be alarming were 1t
not known that many cases of diphtheria and
scarlet fever are not reported to the health au-
thorities. while the death reports are complete
We're all cases reported. the average of deaths
would be greatly reduced. As compared with
the mortality in Now York city from these two
diseases. the number Of deaths IN Brooklyn av-
cragos. in proportion TO population. about ono
third more. The Brooklyn health authorities
say TINT the diseases are not conilundiO my To-
calitirs hut are equally prevalent IN thn houses
say. to defect tive drainage. In tn" wcek ending
March .. out Of thit,y-sevcn houses oxamined
in which contagious diseases existed. thirty
three werc found To- have defective plumbing.
In some houses. with the most approved system
ol ventilation. the discusses haveappoared. prob
The Board Of Health is making strenuous
eyertions TO stop thu progress pf the diseases.
They have directed the Sanitary Superintendent
90 send n list Of persons sick with diphheria
and scarlet fever. md their residences To- the
Principals Of the public schools daily. No child
residing in any OF the houses named is allowed
10 attend school so long rs there is any possible
danger OF communicating the disease. In
many cases parents in tenements have first
learned OF the presence of disease III their
house by the sending home Of their children
SO long ms there is any roughness or pceling
OF Of the j in. and in diphtheria until the
ihDoiNistH says NV DAtiNHt 10 iitt va Nho Nio7
eaSe.
In n circular the Board Of Health gives tho
following recommendations for the sanitary
treatment OF scarlet fever and diphthera:
Scarc, diph iberia like lpox their
power to pread rapidly from person to person they
When scarlet fever or dirhtheria the sick per
mates OF the house, and should be nursed by few per
The SICK room should be comfortably warm exposed to
suglight and well aired At the commit nccmeni OF the
absolutely ->ary should De lett the roon- CARPETS
~ germs nv diss frd insn, IN vi then, ana are
dincul, to dspace The family should not mngle with
Tie clothing and bedding Of nurse and patient should
solution Of .srboe acid placed in boiling water tor 9nc
the same time with that winch i infected
The clothing and bedding while m use. and the car
should b. sprinked day during sickness
a h MN solution OF ea,noe ach
should be rubbed with dry cloth and the cloth burned
ana whened The noor should he washed Win soap
and no, water and earboc aeid added to the water
FOR the purpose fumlsa,ion the window. and doors
Everything that was in the during the sickness
should b. taken up and rsied as far as possible he
door should be taken up.
As regards funerals. the sanitary code pro-
vides that in every case where death occurs from
daceased shail h thoron o Ssn md
enclosed in a tight when possible. metallic)
burial case which shall not thereafter he
strictly private and in no case shall children be
allowed 10 attend thereat.
Ignorant persons often have the funeral SER
vices conducted in the room in which the patient
died. and with the coffin open. They even bend
over and kiss the infected corpse. Thirty or
forty persons are thus exposed 10 contaglon
and the practice has proved fruitful source Of
the disease Kissing the sick children is great
mistqke-a surer way of catching the Infection
could not be devised. This l. an important
point as the great majority OF cases being
among Oh ldren. their parents are apt TO tondle
them. Tie KISS inject the parent. hut
the infection may thereby be carried to the next
child. Last week man was fined Tor having II
public funeral OF his child who died Of scarlet
If the attending physician reports the house
in bad condition. or II there are two cases IN
the same house. an immediate inspection is
made by the health inspectors, and strict
measures taken to remedy any fault in the
pumbins. BY these means i Il hoped that the
disease, may soon he stopped, or at least pre-
vented from spreading.
In regard to medical treatment Of dphthera
there Is much Disagreement; Some favor locinl
applications. others dose their patients, DR.. f.
y. Chapman. an old physician OF Brooklyn. who
has devoted many years to the study OF diph-
liberia. and who has had much success in his
practice, recommends the administration OF
alcohol. Alcohol. he says is poison antago-
nlsticto the poison OF diphtheria H. AYERS that
the percentage OF deaths can hc reduced TO Ont
in liity. 1t neuralizes. he says. the diphtheritiC
poison. sets Tree the nerves OF animal life. sub
dues the fever and Inflammation destroys thu
pnhuum that sustains the membrane ana cut
short the disease. Like any other antidote. II
must DO given promptly nj the outset II dos
not act MS \ stimulant nor produce any OF IL
ordinary elects. DR.. Chapman sustnins his
position by cllng numerous cases IN whl"f
this treatment has bron successful. II" say,
that during the past winter he has only lost on,
cas- out 81 forty.
As diphtheria and scarlet fever are mnknl
great havoc in this city il is recommended tina
parents preserve these directions.
TIE GREAT sNOW STORM.