New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-13

suppose that each case has been treated win
the groSsrst neglect aud ignorance, b0th ny
families and authorities. as Tar as the FISK Oh
cOntagiOn il concerned.
Nlalarial, typhold and yellow fevcrs and dIph-
liberia grow out of or are nOurIshed by gen
eral conditions of air. soll. and food, for which
an individual i, hardly to he held responsible.
But this disease, like smallpox. must rs
rule, be communicated by direct contact with
PARTICLES of the de-quamated SKIN thrown Oh
by the patient, or with some article 81 cloth
ING which be has worn. II is possible to 50
isolate patient aud disinGcct the air OF the
house, that the disease may be promptly held
and extnguIshed. \ child attacked by IL
should he removed INTO II chamber from when
the carpet and all other wOOllen articles have
been removed. He and his attendant should
bc wholly separated from the rest OF the lam
lis. when he is convalesccnt the apartment
should he thoroughly diSinfccted, the paper on
the walls removed, the ceiling washed, the
bedding DESTROYED, and every article, however
small which cannot be sacrificed, iumgated'
The disease has been communicated by means
of books or a piece of flannel, after the lapse
of u year. No doubt these precautions seem
absurd to the busy matron who nurses hcr
baby with the scarlet fever in the midst OF a
throng of other children and sympathlzlug
ncighbors. But they are surely preferable to
the triumphant career of the disease through
the whole household or street. in England
this Murder of the Inn0cents is held in check
by LEGAL authority. a house III which a ease
occurs passes under the control of municipal
rules. and its isolation and diSintectlon are
compelled, though not half strictly enough
The freedom American rs yet resents any
interference with his household arrangements
on behalf Of the public health. His drains, his
foul smells and his diseases are his private
property, and nobody shall hinder HIM II he
chooses to scatter death with them on every
hand. 1t Is amazing, too, TO watch the
Indifferent gOOdhumor with which the
American puts up with tins muIdcr0uS Inso-
lence. The smallpox, for example, ragged III
Philadelphia a few Winters ago. No attempt
was made 10 compel the removal OF patients
to hospital, or even their isolation III their
own houses. Not even the poor pretence OF
marking the infected dwellings was rcsOrttd
to. Men with the eruption not yet healed
iosled y0u on the street or IN the cars. Re
specialize physicians jOkcd about patients
they had attended dying in the back rooms
of oystcr-sl0OnS or cIgar-shOps, while thor
nurses attended mt both bedside and counter.
4 mortality is frightfui as WAS produced by
the yellow fever in many cities was the result.
Common sense advances like every other
civiIilins agent, and it will not long tolerate
th, suicidal folly. Why should not New
York be first to move in this matter ana pass
such restrictions upon the contagion OF dis
eases inside her limits As the quarantine Is
meant to do without! We are informed from
other cities that N;e are actively preparing to
guard against yellow fever next summer. We
are glad to hear it. and should be more dis
posed to believe it if we were dong any
thing to check the present no less dangerous
if less extended plague.