Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-13
DIPHTHERIA.
Suggestions of the Wisconsin Board Of
Health for its Restriction and Proven
ton.

Quent fatality. In view of these facts,
The state board of health urges upon
the citizens of Wisconsin the exercise of
such precautions as experience has
proven to be etfectual in Its restriction
ana prevention, and to this end calls at
tention to the following facts and sug-
gestious
Diphtheria occurs most frequently,
and in its most fatal forms, in localities
which are filthy. 1t does not matter
whether the filth exists in visible and
disgusting forms, such as the garbage
heap, the cess-pool or privv vault,
or in the invisible and posi-
bly inodorous gases from an illy-con-
structed sewer. from decaying vegeta-
bles in the cellar, or in the poisonous
exhalations from the human breath
and body in unventilated rooms. Its
effects are to lower the vitality Of the
system, make it less able to resist the
attacks of disease of any kind, and fit it
for the development of the worst form
of any prevailing epidemic. From
any form of filth, either upon your own
or your neighbours premises, poisonous
vapors may fill the house, to be inhaled
with every breath; or the teachings Of
filth may penetrate through many feet
of soil and pollute the water supply,
which to casual inspection appears
pure. Diphtheria has so often appear
ed where such uncleanly conditions
have prevailed, when it could not be
traced to- continuous propagation by in
lection or contagion, that its relation to
filth as a cause is we'll established, and
it is rightly characterized rs pre-emi
nently filth disease.
Whatever may be its origin, Diphthe-
ria is unquestionably contagious and
infectious, and may be communicated
from enc sick with the disease to an
other by the breath, through the air
which surrounds him or by the secre-
tons or discharges from his person. 1t
may also, but with less certainty, be
carried from one place to another and
communicated by means of clothing,
food and other articles, which have been
contaminated in the sick room. As
rule, the danger of exposure to the dis
ease is in proportion to the malignity
of the CASE but to this there are many
exceptions, and exposure to the mildest
case may be followed by the severest
form of the disorder. Children are
most susceptible to the disease, and
may contract it IN its worst type from
the kiss of an adult who has what APP
pears to be but trivial "sore throat"
The time that elapses between exposure
to and the subsequent development Of
Diphtheria in tie person exposed, bears
some relation to the malignancy of the
disease and its prevalence as an cpl
demic at the time. Usually it appears
within the first week, but in exceptional
cases its appearance may be delayed to
much later period. 1t is Of the
first importance that an outbreak of
the disease should be the signal for the
immediate observance of those pre-
cautions which are known to be most
effectual in the restriction of any con-
tagious disease, and in this respect the
treatment should be as vigorous rs in
case of smallpox or scarlet fever, the
one rule of most imperative necessity
being the isolation of the patient
Immediately upon the appearance of
the disease, the patient should be re-
moved to room as remote rs possible
from family occupancy. This room
should be prepared for his reception by
removing from it all superHuous furni-
ture, especially such MS wooden carpets,
extra clothing, books. and all window
curtains, table spreads and other SINH
lar articles which cannot be subse-
quently cleansed by boiling. The
room should be large and sunny, and
it is better if it be in the
upper part of the house. Par
ticular care should be taken to
have it ventilated as thoroughly as pos
sible, while the patient is protected
from any direct draughts, in order to
dilute the poisoned atmosphere to the ut
most extent. This will be facilitated
and the care of the patient rendered
easier, if it be practicable to place the
bed SO as to make it accessible from all
sides. No one should be admitted to
the sick room except the necessary at
PENDANTS, whose garments should be
made of such materials as will admit Of
being cleansed by boiling. No food
which has been in the sick room should
be partaken Of by the well; even the
dishes which have contained such food
should be cleansed by themselves. I'm
der no circumstances should the pa
tents soiled bed or body linen be mix
ed with other soiled clothing, or be ad.
mitted to the general wash; it should be
at once cleansed by boiling water. For
the cleansing of the mouth and nose
from the discharges, which are some
times copious and always dangerous,
bits of linen or cotton cloth, or pieces of
soft paper should be used and immedi-
ately burned. Discharges from the
bowels and bladder, which are also
sources Of danger, should be received
in vessels containing disinfectng fluids,
and as soon as possible removed from
the room and buried. If received on
cloths, these should be burned.
The recovery Of the sick person
should be complete and the cleansing
of the person thorough before he again
mingles with the well, and, during the
presence of diphtheria in any family,
all members of that family should be
excluded from the public schools and
refrain from attendance upon public
assemblies or unnecessary intercourse