The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-02-21
DIpHTHERrA.
Circular Of the State Board Of Health
to the People Of Tennessee.


Circular Of the State Board Of Health
to the People Of Tennessee.
The prevalence OF diphtheria in
various portions OF Tennessee has
induced the State Board of Health
TO issue the appending circular:
TENNEssEE STATE BOARD or
HEALTH.-In view of the fact that
diphtheria is now visiting a portion
of our State, 1t seems important
that more thorough sttempts to
control the disease should be made
by the local authorities.
In the first place, as diphtheria
Is a contagious disease, and under
certain circumstances not entirely
known, very highly so, it is impor.
tant that all practicable means
should be taken to separate the sick
from the well. AS it is also infec-
tious, wooden clothes, carpets, cur
tains, hangings, etc, should DO
avoided in the sick room, and only
such materials used as can be read
lily washed.
All clothes when removed from
the patient, should be at once
placed in hot water. Pocket. hand.
kerchiefs should be laid aside. and
in their stead soft pieces of linen or
cotton cloth should be used, and at
once burned.
Disinfectants should always be
placed in the vessel containing the
expectoration, and may be used
somewhat freely in the sick room;
those being especially useful which
destroy bad odoTs without causing
others, (nitrate of lead, chloride of
zinc, DC.
In schools, there Should be espe-
cial supervision, as the disease is
often so mild in It's early stages as
not to attract common attention;
and no child should be allowed to
attend school from an infected
house, until allowed to do so by a
competent physician.
In the case Of young children, all
reasonable care should be taken to
prevent undue exposure to the cold.
Pure water for drinking should
be used, avoiding contaminated
sources of supply; ventilation
should be insisted ON, and local
drainage must be carefully attended
tO. In country towns privies and
cesspools should be frequently
emptied and disinfected; slop water
should not be allowed 70 soak into
the surface of the ground near
dwelling houses, and the cellars
should be kept dry and sweet.
In all cases o: diphtheria, fully
as great care should be taken In dis
injecting the sick room after use, as
in scarlet fever
After a death from diphtheria,
the clothing disuscd should be
burned or exposed 70 nearly or
quite a heat OF boiling water; the
body should be placed as early as
practicable in the coffin, with disin-
fectants, and the coffin should DO
tightly closed.
Children, at least, and better
adults also in most cases, should
not attend funeral from a house
10 which a death from diptheria has
occurred. But, with suitable pre-
caution, IL is not necessary that the
funeral should be private, provided
the corpse be not in any way ox-
posed.
Although 1t is not at present pos
sible 70 remove nj once all sources
of epidemic disease. yet the frequent
visitation OF such disease, and es.
pecially It's continued prevalence,
may be taken as sufficient evidence
Of iasdnitary surroundings, and Of
sources Of sickness 10 a certain ex-
tent preventable.
IL should be distinctly UNDER
stood that no amount Of artificial
isinfection" can ever take the
place Of pure air, good water, and
proper drainage, which can not be
gained without prompt and efficient
removal OF all filth, whether from
slaughter houses, etc, public build
ings, crowded tenements, OF private
residences. In the opinion OF the
Board, this will likely be done
properly only through independent
local boards Of health, the appoint
ment Of which In all cases we most
respectfully, but earnestly, urge
upon the citizens Of the State.
We have the honor te DC,
Very specially yours,
j. ID. PLUSKET,
4. A. AscHIsoS,
u N Wtaur