Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-09-11

The commission Of experts, eUmpris-
ing some Of the ahlest men On the cUun-
try, appointed by the nstional board OF
health 90 prepare q circular on cheap.
yet thorough disiniecti0n in ease of ep~
idemic disease, have Submitted the fol-
lowing -" DisInfeetion Is THE destruc-
tioa q Poisons Of infectious or eonta-
gious diseases. DeodorzeFs ere not ne
cessaFily disinfectants, and disinfeetants
do not necessarily have an odoF. The
disinfectants to be used are First. roll
sulphur fos kemigaliOn; second, sulphate
OF iron (eoPpeFasl, dissolved In water
10 the proportion Of one and q half
pounds 10 the gallon, Cor soil, sewers,
etc: third, sulphste Of zinc and com
mon salt, dissolved together in water in
the proportion Of foHg ounces Of sui
Phate and two ounces salt to the gallon,
for clothing, bed linen, etc. The eosn-
mission exclude earbOIie acid, for the
reasons that il is difficult 10 secure the
proper quality and must be used in large
quantities TO be ol service. In using
disinfectants IN the sick room the most
available agents are fresh air and clean
linens. The clothing. towels. bedlineu,
etc, should be removed from the %.
tient, and before they are taken from
the room, be placed IN q pail OF tub of
the zinc solution, boiling hot, if possi-
bic. All discharges should either BE-
received in vessels containing the cop
peras solution, or. when this is Imprac-
ticable, should be Immediately covered
with the copPeras solution. An ves.
sells used about the patient should be
cleansed with the same solution. Un-
necessary furniture, especially that
which is stuffed, carpets and hsngings
should, when possible, be removed from
the room at the outset; otherwise, they
should remain for subsequent fumiga-
ton and treatment. Fumigatioh with
sui Phur Is the only practicable method
ot disinfecting the house. For this pur-
pose the rooms TO be disinfected must
be vacated. Heavy clothing, blankets,
and other articles which cannot be
treated with zinc solutions, should be
opened and exposed during fumigation,
as directed below. Close the rooms as
tightly as possible, place the sulphur in
iron pans, supported on bricks, placed
in tubs containing little water, set Il
on fire by hot Goals, or with the aid oi a
spoonful Of alcohol, and allow the room
to remain closed for twenly-four hours.
For a room about ten feet square at
least two pounds Of sulphur should be
used; for larger rooms proporiionately
increased quantities. Cellars, yardr,
stables, cutters, privies, cesspools, wa
ter closets drains, sewers, ETC., should
be frequently and literally treated with
copPeras solution. The copperss solu-
iion is easily prepared by hanging a
basket containing about sixty pounds Of
the copperas in barrel Of water. II IS
best TO burn all articles which have
come in contact with persons sick with
contagiOn or infectious diseases. Arti-
cles too valuable 10 be DESTROYED should
be treated as follows: Cotton, liner,
lanneIs, blankets, ETC., should be treated
with the boiling zinc solution; introduce
piece by piece; secure thorough melt
ing and boil for at least half an hour.
Heavy wooden clothing, silks, furs,
stuffed bed covers, beds and other arti.
cles, which cannot be treated with the
zinc solution should be hung in the room
during fumigatIon, their surface thor
oughly exposed, and pockets turned in
side out; afterward they should be hung
IN the open air. beaten and shaken.
Pillows, beds, stuffed mattresses, up
holstered furniture, ETC, should be cot
open,the contents spread out and thor
oughIy fumigated. Carpets are best
fumigated on the floor, but should after
ward be removed TO the open air, and
thoroughly beaten. Corpses should be
thoroughly washed with a zinc solution
OF double strength and buried at once.
Metallic. metal-lined or air-tight cofFins
should be used when possible; certain
ly when the body is 10 be transported
any considerable distance"