, 1879-07-31
DISlNFECTANTS AND TREATMENT OF DIS,
EASE,

70 the Editor of TIE Tribune.
CHICAGO, July a5.-1 do uot th!uk I ever
could have hecn doctor, md this may bo ono
reason that l havo had 80 much Of tho cum
tiacnce Of doctors; but, for soma reason, they
haye given nc good many scraps Of useful
information, which havo sometimes applied
In ways they did not anticipate II wns In a
conversation OH diseases Of tic. blood, In my
own sick room, ,thut IN eminent physician gayo
inc the idea by which the gangreuc was stopped
III the hospitals OF the Army OF thu Potomac,
IN tic summer Of '13; ail that same physir a,,
IN another case. in our own family. gave nc nl,
Idea which I thtuk might be used to dtsinfoct
any placc Or thing Of fuyer-gcrms.
mist bc propagated BY see'is with vegetable or
germs with animal life fn them: 1t IL ia, why
can It not 10 checked BY the fumes OF turning
bsinstonef Or course, the question would havo
tf to Is tested before i could be answered; but
house, boat, or ship, after 1t had
heea thorouehly Observation-Disclosures
with tho fumes Of burning brim-
hcen IN i. When a pa.'cnt t1Ics OF that fever,
1t would be easy to SGT pan OF burning char
coa Into the r'on, ecattOr brt'lstono IN H. come
out, close Tho ROOM tightly, nlu leave It closed
the handling OF the corpse, anl It's SURROUND
inso, would bc much less dangerous than It
now is.
Another. thing which mover should be forgot
imneaiats covering q I'll dIssharges % from ti,o s
patient with dry asflcs or earth. Tho surplus
ashcs Of winter should be llusb4ndcl US most
precious. anl kept dry, to bo used as lcodor-
mouths. The ash Ar.d cint!er OF b!tumiuouy
coal aro simply Invaluable IN th's use, ailu, as
promoter Of cleanliness. mud )lcalth,. arc worth
ilsclr weight in good old silver lolars. II no
good substitute Is at sMI.l, 1ry clay vii! auawer
instead. b1t Ia NUt tCIia1 tlia QRh and r1nfpr
Of that coal whose very smoke and SCOT are Ills
lntecsants.
NJ vessel should be used In u sick room With
out out having Thick layer Of dry athes Or earth OH
alate'y @ covered by another layer, SO - to pro-
Veht M tl'e s:capo Into thu ROOM Of all ofIenslve
c!i!!Ysa. Iho iincst carpet Or counterpanu that
eyer came from loom would cu.cr With ashes
or clay II 1t Were stained by black yolnI; and In
ease ot at'y lack Of help, I should fuel TINT l
servea Ae cause OF cleanliness by gradually
converting tie most elegaut chamber III tho
!atiu 'hto On nppaIcnt aals-heap or brleli-y yard,
When tho Medical Inspector came IL Tic old
Theatre Oh Princess Aun street, ln Frcdcricks-
burg, when ! Wus doing duty as Surgeon In
ci,a1rSe .. ~ despeIrats!y rounded tne With
cowards who had run away In buttle-to act aa
nurses lie wise olilclal was especially troub|ed
about q couple OF Cart-loads OF DIR rubbgh
an'i ordered my Iucn to clear It away, whiie
there was tlu sink, md hu vessel but such es 1
had bought with my own private mrnns, 10 pre-
sgryc thu atr from pu!lut!on
ltDs.nntly cOuutcrnlalidcl that order; md.
by keeping my forces concentrated on my
chosen llno Of defcnse. hcld ut bIy-until succor
calne IN thu shalo Vi Dr. Ch1s, ot Philadelphia,
. regular-army 6uFgeon-t'lat dcntt. from neg.
thu face, In that land of savage fors, wllere
ladies sDat upon R,nl ktcKel wounded auA byin;,
men. but stniled aud fHwne1 upon ol!icers who
had pork al,d bcaNs to give 0us.
+ ttI, ~ A.,-x.