Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-25
Preventing the Spread Of Disease.

The commission Of experts appointed
by the National Board Of Health Of the
United States To prepare n circular en-
bodying familiar instructions for disin-
fiction has made report 10 the board
The report Is as follows:
Disinfcction Is the destruction Of the
poisons Of infectious or contagious dis
eases. Dcodorizcrs are not necessarily
disinfectants, and disinicctdnts do not
necessarily bear an odor. The disin-
fcCtants 10 be used are: First, roll sui
phur for fumigation second sulphate OF
iron (copperas) dissolved in water In the
proportion of one AM half pounds TO
the gallon, for soil, sewers. etc 4; third,
sulphatc Of zinc and common salt dis
solved together in water in the proper
ton Of four ounces Of salt 10 the gallon
for clothing. bed linen. etc. The COM
mission exclude carbolic acid, for the
reason that Il is difficult TO secure the
proper quality, and it mus. be used in
large quantities TO be Of service. In using
disinfcciants in the sick room. the most
available agents are fresh air and clean
lincss. The towels. clothing bed linen.
etc. should. on removal from the patient
and before they are taken from the room,
be- placed In pail or tub Of the zinc So
luton, boiling hot II possible. All dis
charges should either bc received in vc--
sells containing Coppcras solution. or.
when this II impTacticnble. should be
Immediately covered with copperas solu-
tion. All vessels used about the patient
should be cloanscd with the same solu-
tion. Unnecessary furniture. especially
that which l. stuiled-carpcts and hang
ings-should. when possible. be removed
from the room at the outset otherwise
they should remain for subsequent hmi-
cation and treatment Fumigation with
sulphur is the only practicable method
OF disinfccting the house. For this rur-
pose the rooms TO h. disinfcctcd must be
vacated. Heavy clothing. blankets. bed
ding and other articles which cannot be
treated with zinc solutions should be
opened and exposed during fumigaiion
as directed below: Close the room As
tightly "A possible, place the sulphur in
ir'n pans. supported on bricks contained
in tubs containing n little water set II
on fire by hot Goals or with the aid Of
spoonful Of alcohol. and allow the room
10 remain closed for twcnty-fuur hours
For room about ton feet square AT least
two pounds Of sulphur should be used
for larger rooms proportionaielY in
creased quantities. Cellars. yards,
stables. cutters. privics. ccsspools.
watcr-Closcis. drains, sewers, etc. should
be frequently and literally treated with
coppeTas solution. Tho copperas solution
is easily prepared by hanging a basket
containing about sixty pounds of the
coppcras In barrel OF water. II is best
to burn articles which have come in
contact with persons sick with conta-
gious or infectious diseases. Articles too
valuable to he destroyed should be
treated as follows: Cotton. linen. fan
nels, blankets. etc. should be treated
with the boiling zinc solution. introduce
piece by piece. secure thorough wetting
and boil for at least half an hour. Heavy
woolon clothing, silks. furs. stuffed bed
covers. beds and other articles which
cannot be treated with the solution
should be hung In the room during fnmi-
CATION, their surfaces thoroughly ex-
posed and pockets turned inside out. Az
terward they should he hung in the open
air. beaten and shaken.