Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-18
Diphtheria.

This terrible disease Is again amoug us
bat as yet, not to All alarming extent; al
though death has marked its passage in a
lew instances.
Let our citizens remember that proven
ton is better than cure. 1t is the duty OF
every intelligent person TO use every effort
to allay its progress in our midst. This can
be done, and the disease confined to its
present limits if proper precautions be had
for its prevention. All the sanitary laws
known to our people ought to be observed
and carried into effect. AS in all other
diseases i'll health predisposes to diphthera.
Then we shout be doubly vigIant in
watching the weakly ones, and especially
those among our little ones who are DIS
posed to have enlarged tonsils and ordinary
sore throat. OF course, none are exempt,
but these are the most liable to the disease.
All dwellings and uuthonses, cellars, pri-
vies, sinks, &c., should be scrupulously
clean. If any bad odors are emmitted from
these places, they should be disintec,ed;
and the best and cheapest disinfectant is
sulphate of iron or common green copperas.
couple of ounces added to two gallons of
water is sufficiently strong When dissol-
we'd sprinkle about cellars, &C., and pour a
pal-full down.the sink and mother into the
privy vault. A pound or two of this ma
terial nsed properly may save large doc
tors bill, and possibly one of your little
ones. As this is "a contagious disease every
precau,ion should be used to prevent its
spread All cases should be isolated. and II
possible kept in II comfortable room in the
second story, and at a distance from the
rest OF the family. a III Dishes vessels,
spoons, &C., used by the patient ought to be
thoroughly cleansed before being put away.
Boiling them is the most edectuai plan OF
cleaning. The nurse ought not to NIX with
the rest of the family, rs she being con-
stantly over the patient is most liable to
spread the coniagion. Alter he case has
recovered all clothing should be fumigatpd
with sulphur or boiled thoroughly. The
room used by the patient should be thor
oughiy fun gated for couple of days with
sulphur, after which throw open the win
dows for week at least before it is again
occupied Disintectants should be used con,
stantIy while the patient is in hand. For
this purpose Carbolic Acid and ST phate of
IRON m " be used The former one drachm TO
eight ounces OF water, the latter rs area ly
indicated; and sprinkle over floors, beds, &C.. 3,
AMI our into night vessels, splltons, &c
No children should be allowed TO attend
school from house where dIpb iberia exists.
They should absent themselves al least tor
two weeks after the disease has disappeared
from The family. We would respectfully
call the attention OF the school board and
all the teachers to this fact In some parts
Of the stale schools have been closed TO
prevent the spread of this disease. a little
caution and vigilance may prevent the
necessity of doing so in oar CASE. In the
matter of public funerals where cases have
died of diphtheria, although we cannot alb
soIutely control them yet we will simply
advise that there b. rs little publicity and
demonstration as possible 1t would be
better If they were quite private.