The New York herald., 1879-07-30

UNFOUNDED RUMoRS REGARDING A CASE OF
YELLOW FEVER AT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SANITARY CONDITIONS.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE nEGALD1
NORFOLK. Va. July 20. 1870.
Norfolk has yellow fever record, and tor that
reason timid people fly off with fright at almost
any that may be started like that OF Sunday,
when it reported that refugee from Mem
phis was down with fever at the Purcell
House. There have been no refugees this
summer from the Memphis section. aud
at least ten days ago the health boards
of both Norfolk and Portsmou notified the railroad
and steamboat companies that they would not bo
allowed to introduce passengers baggage or freight
from the infected districts The stricest quarantine
is mantained below by the Commissioners appointed
by the STATE and not u case OF lever has been at
quarantine this season.
SANITARY CONDITION.
The health authorities OF Norfolk and Portsmouth
have strenuously labored during the summer to
place the two cities in fair sanitary condition, and
both communities are pronounced 10y the local
practising physicians absolutely irce from those in
iucnces that contribute most to the origin and pro-
motion OF infectious fever. No uneasiness prevails
with people of intelligence and Judgment and tho
wild rumors prevalent in Richmond. Raleigh and
elsewhere are as absurd Us they are unfoundcd.
CIRCULAR FROM THE NATIONAL BOARD OF
AIRY MEASURES.
WAsHISGToN, July 20. 1879.
The Executive Committee of the National Board
of Health has issued the following circular dis
infection:
NATIONAL BOARD OF HEALTH,
WAsuINGIoN, ID. G.. July 10 1870.
The following memoranda on disintcction for
limiting the spread of yellow fever are published
N summary of existing knowledge ON this subject.
This knowledge is Tar from being precise. and the
Board has taken measures to have the effects of dis
infectants. aud more particularly OF or vola-
tile disinfectants. upon the lower organisms. both
moist and dry. carefully investigated. This investi-
cation VIII require much time. Tut tho results will,
1t IL hoped. repay the cost.
Ftysi-lt III prudent to assume that the essential
cause OF yellow fever IL what may tor concseness
be called a germs" that is. something which is
living human body; that this germ aourshes
especially in dccaying organic matter or hth. and
that distnfecion must have reference both to the
germs and to that In or ON which IL hourishos.
standardization when used in place not In
fccted for tho purpose of rendering the NTH OF foul
soils. water, &C.. incapable OF propasatng disease
germs is poor substitute for cleanliness and is
mainly useful to make the process of cleaning odor
less aud harmless. The best disinfccants tor this
purpose are suiphnte OF iron. carboc acid, fresh
quickline. fresh charcoal powder chloride of zinc.
Th,ri-Thu two great difficulties IN destroying the
vitality OF the germ of yellow fever are--hrst. to
bring the dsinfecting agent INTO actual contact with
the gcrn and. second. 10 avoid inJuring destroy
ing other things which should be preserved
TE GERM YELLOW PEvEg.
FOurM--Whcn the germ OF yellow fever is dry or
partially dried. no gaseous disinfcctant can be
lied on to destroy IL. IL must either be mostcied
or subjected to ury heat OK not less than 25U de-
grccs to obtain security.
rttU--In d,sinfcctng or destroying infected
clothing. bedding or movable articles. move them
niue possible while dry. Before distributing
them, have them thoroughly moistcned either with
n chemical disinfoctng Rolution with boiling
water In order to prevent the diffusion OF direct
germs in tho air i'll the form of dust.
.DIsINFECrISG PROCESS.
saM--Tho best method OF disinfecting rooms.
buildings, ships. &c. is still doubtful. owing to the
difficulty oi destroying tho vitality OF drled germs.
The Board proposes TO have this subject carefully
investigated ana in the meantime advises thorough