The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-02-14
.DIpTnERIA.
Circular of the State Board OF
Health to the People OF
Tennessee.

The prevalence Of dIphtheria in va
rious portions OF Tennessee has in
iuced tho State Board Of Health to
issue the appended circular:
TENNESSEE STATE BOARD or HEALTH.
In view OF the fact that diphtheria /,
now visiting a portion Of our State, il
seems important that more thorough
attempts to control the disease should
be made by the local authorities.
In the first place, us diptheria is 1
contagious disease, and under certain
circumstances not entirely known,
very highly 50, it is important that al
practicable means should he taken to
separate the sick (, ON the well. As il
$ also infectious, wooden clothes, car
PETS. curtains, hansings, etc, should
be avoided in the sick room, and only
such materials used as can he readily
washed.
All clothes when removed from the
patient. should he al once placed il
hot water. Pockct-handkerchiers
should he laid aside. and ia their stead
soft pieces Of linen or cotton cloth
should be used, and at once burned.
Disinfcctants should always be plac-
ed | n the vessel containing the expec,
loIation, and may be used somewhat
freely in the sick room; those being
especially useful which destroy bad
odors without causing others, nitrate
OF lead, chloride Of zinc, etc
In schools, there should be especial
supervision, as the disease is often so
mlld in its early stages as not to Mt
tract common attention.; and no child
should be allowed to attend school
from an Infected house, until allo wed
to DO so by a competent physician.
In the case of young children, all
reasonable care should be taken to
prevent ndue exposure to the cold.
Pare water for drinking should he
used, avoiding contaminated sources
Of supply; ventilation should bo in
sisted on, and local drainage must be
carefully attended to, In country towns
privics and cesspools should be fire.
qnently emptied and d%isinlecled slop
water should not be allowed to soak
into the surface Of the ground near
dwelling houses, and the cellars should
be kept dry and sweet.
In all cases of diptheria, fully as
great care should be taken in disinfec-
ting the sick room after use, as in
scarlet fever.
After a death from diptheiia, the
clothing disused Should he burned or
exposed to nearly or quite a heat of
boiling water; the body should be
rs early as practicable in the
with disinfectants, and the coffin
should be tightly closed.
Children. at least, and better adults
also in most cases, should not attend
"A funeral from a house in which a death
from %diptheria has occurred. But, with
suitable %precaution, it is not necessary
the funeral should be private,
provided the corpse be not in any way
exposed.
Although it is not at present posi-.
BILE to remove at once all sources of
epidemic disease, and especially its
continued prevalence may be taken as
sufficient evidence of isanitarv sur.
roundlngs, and of sources of sickness
n certain extent %prcvcntable.
1t should he distinctly understood
no amount OF artificial "d~isinfcc-
ton 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,
tic, public buildings. crowded tenc-
ncnts, or private residences. In the
of the Board, this will likely be
lone property only through independ-
mt local boards of health, the appoint
nent of which in all cases we most res.
'ectiully, but earnestly, urge upon the
itlzcns of the State.
Very respectfully yours,
j. D. PLUNKET.
II. A.. AICHISON,
i NJ. WRIGHT,
r. Is. MAURY.