Connecticut western news., 1879-01-08
DiPhtheriR. A CIRCULAR FROM THE BOARD OF HEALTI

OF MASSACHUSETTS.
 In view of the fact that diphtberia, al- though now less prevalent than in the cold CT months. may be expected to visit DOT ton of our State during the autumn and winter, it seems, important that more thor ough attempts to control the disease should be made by the local authorities.
 In the first place, as dipbtheria is con- tagious disease, and under circumstances not entirely known. very highly so, it is inn portant that all practicable means should be taken to separate the sick from the we'll As it is also infectious, woolen clothes, car pets, curtains. hangings. etc., should be avoided in the slck-room, and only such materials used as can be readily washed.
 All clothes, when removed from the pa tent, should be at once placed in hot water. Pocket-handkerchiefs should be laid aside, and in their stead soft pieces of linen or cotten cloth should be used, and at once burned.
 i Disinfectants should always he placed in the vessel containing the approximation, and may be used somewhat freely in the sick room those being especially useful which destroy bad odors without causing others (nitrate of lead, chloride of zipc, etc.) In schcols there should be especial su- pervision, as the disease is often so mild il it's early stages as not to attract common at tention and no child should be allowed tc attend school from an infected house, unti allowed to do so by competent physician
 In the case of young children, all reason able care should be taken to prevent un due exposure to the cold.
 Pure water for drinking should be used avoiding contaminated sources of supply ventilation should be insisted on, and loca drainage must be attended to. Privies ant cesspcols, where they exist, should be ire auently emptied and disinfected, slop- wate should not be allowed to soak into the sur face of the ground near dwelling-houses and the cellars should be kept dry an, sweet.
 In cities, especially In tidal districts, ba. sins, baths, etc., as now connected witl drains, should never communicate directly with sleepiDg-rooms. In view of the fac that the majority of our houses are improp erly provided with local drainage, and tha this is probably at least as great u source o disease as bad sewers in view of the fac too, tbat many cities are likely to ,ppoin boards of health by virtue of the authori,, conveyed upon them by Chapter l33 of th Acts of the General Court of 1877, tn Board desire to call attention to the follow ing important section of that Act:- SECTION 5. Said boards of health, an the board of health of the city of Boston in addition to the powers conferred upo them by existing statutes, are hereby au thorized to prepare and enforce, in their re spective cities, such regulations as the may deem necessary for the safety an
 health of the people, with reference house-drainaRe, and it's connection wit public sewers, where such connection made"
 ] In all cases of diphtheria. fully as gres care should be taken in disinfecting tn , sick-room, after use, as In scarlet feyer. , After death from diphtheria, the clctf ing disused should be burned or exposed t nearly or quite heat of boiling water; th body should be placed as early as practlca ble in the coffin, with disinfectants. and tn cofRn should be tightly closed.
 III Children, at least, and better adults als in most cases should not attend funers ! from house in which dea tn from dipt
 theria has occurred. But with sultabl
 precautions. it is not necessary that the fu
 peral should be private provided the corps be not in any way exposed.
 Although it is not at present possible 3 remove at once all sources of epidemic dlt ease, yet the frequent visitation of sue
 disease, and especially It's continued prevs lence, may be taken as sufficient evidenc
 of insanitary surroundings, and of source
 of sickness to certain extent preventablt It should be distinctly understood tha
 no amount of artificial "disinfection" ca ever take the place of pure ar, good wate and proper drainage, which cannot be gain : ed without prompt ond efficient removal Q 3 all filth, whether from slaughter houses etc., public buildings, crowded tenements
 or private resldences In the opinion c
 the oard, this is likely to be done proper
 ly only through independent local board O
 health the appointment of which ln al . cases we most respectfully. but earnestly urge upon the citizens of the State. CORRESPONDEN