The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-23
FoURTH WARD DIPHTHERIA.
A Card From the Health onIeer-s some
Hints and Directions as 10 the Nan.
agement or thc Disease.


Editors lutelligeneeF.
Last year there were forty.Rve death
in the city from diphtheria; out OF thl
number twenty-five, or one half occurred
in the Fourth Ward. During the last TEL
days there has been. SIX deaths from thil
cause, and all from the Fourth Ward
This points to local cause.
Diphtheria is not at present epidemic
in this city, nor any where else. II Is {
well recognized filth disease Of highly
infectious and contagious power. It i
also pteyeatable; too little attention Is paid
to this fact. Children should not be allow.
ed 70 come In contact with It, or TO attend
the funeral OF those who die withit.
HOW IT SPREADS.
DiphtheriR is a contagious disease tnol
so marked as scarlet ieyer) induced by
contact with persons or things infected.
II may be diffused by the exhalations oil
the sick, by the air surrounding them, OF
directly communicated in the act of kiss.
ing, coughing, splitting, sneezing, OF by
the infected articles used, as towels, nap
kins, handkerchiels, &c. The poison
clings with great tenacity to certain places,
rooms and houses, where It may occasion
cases after months.
FREDlsPosINd CONDITIONS.
The Peron-Diphtheria attacks BY pref.
erence children between the ages Of one
and ten years, the greatest mortality being
in the second third aud fourth year; chill.
dren OF feeble constitution, those weak
ened by previous sickness; and those sut.
iering from catarrh, Group, and other
forms OF throat affections.
Social Retdti0nS-All classes are liable 10
diphtheria when it is prevailing, but those
suffer most who live on low. wet grounds,
in houses with imperfect drains or sur
rounded by offensive matters, as privies,
decaying animal or Vegetable refuse; In
damp rooms, or cellars; in over-crowded
and unventilSted apartments.
SeaaonS-Diphtheria Is not affected by
heat or cold, drought or rain.
PRECAUTIONS.
TIE Dlreiling-C Cleanliness in and around
the dwellings, and pure air in living and
sleeping rooms are Of the utmost import
ance where any contagious disease Is pre-
vaillng, as cleanliness tends both to pre-
vent and mitigate 1t. Every kind and source
OF tilth around and in the house should
be thoroughly removed; cellars, privies
and foul yards, should be cleaned and dis
infected, drains should be put in perfect
repair; dirty walls and ceilings should be
lime washed, and every room be thorough
ly ventilated. Rooms which have been
occupied by persons sick with diphtheria
should be cleansed with disinfectants,
white washed and the wood work scrub
bed with hot water; the carpets, bed cloth
ing, upholstered furniture, &C., exposed
many days to fresh air and sunlight, All
articles which may be boiled, or subjected
to high degrees Of heat, should be thus
treated; such rooms should be exposed to
currents OF fresh air for at least one week
before being again used.
When diphtheria is prevailing no child
should be allowed to kiss strange children,
nor those suffering from sore throat. The
disgusting habit OF compelling children to
kiss every visitor is we'll continued meth
cd OF propagating other diseases than
nor should It sleep with nor be
confined to rooms occupied by, or use ar
tiCles, such as toys, handkerchieis, &C.,
belonging 10 children having sore throat,
Group or catarrh. The funerals OF persons
who die Of diphtheria should be private,
no children should be allowed to attend,
the body should be enclosed in tight
coffin as soon as possible, and not again
opened.
While on this subject wish again 10
call the attention Of all citizens to the i'm
portance, will say the pressing need, OF
greater cleanliness Of their premises.
While, OF course, It is not expected that
we will be visited by yellow fever, still the
experience OF the Southern cities should
not be forgotten. We do know that to be
clean both in our persons and premises is
to be more healthful. The death rate OF
this city is too large, and mainly from pre-.
ventable diseases. While its sanitary con-
dition is at present very good, it still can
be better, or at least grow no worse, II
every one will do little in the way OF
cleaning up. It is utterly impossible for
one man to look after the daily accumula.
tions Of filth and nuiSances in 80 large a
city as this. l will do, as have, all in
my power to keep the city in good santa
ry condition, and ask the cooperation OF
everybody. Allow no filth or garbage to
collect or remain on your premises.
report to me every failure Of the garbage
collector to call, see that your own and
your neighbor's privy vault is clean aud
free from odor. Many people neglect this
from fear Of giving ofense to their land
lord or neighbor. Why should any one
be afraid to report any nuisance or dis.
ease breeding cause2 1t will be source
OF small satisfaction to you to have your
child dead or any member Of your family
sick from a probable cause that might
have been prevented, except through fear
OF possible ofense. No one has the
right to allow anything to exist that will
be detrimental to health.
Respectfully, l-
Health Officer.