The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-01
DIPHTHERIA.
Rule. for Its Prevention and Treatment.

Rules for Its Prevention and Trcn ntment.
The Massachusetts, State board of
health has issued rules for the preven-
ton and treatment of diphtheria, which
are applicable to any locality. They
are as follows:
In the first place, as diphtheria is a
contagious disease, and under certain
circumstances not entirely known, very
highly SO, it is important that all prac-
ticable means should be taken to sepa-
rate the sick from the we'll. AS it is
also infectious, wooden clothes, carpets,
curtains, hangings, ETC., should be
avoided in the sick room, aud only such
materials used as can be readily washed.
All clothes, when removed from the
patient. should be at once placed in hot
water. Pocket handkercniefs should
be laid aside, and in their stead soft
pieces of linen or cotton cloth should
be used, and at once burned.
Disinfectants should always be placed
in the vessel containing the expectora-
ton, 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 zinc, etc. ..
In schools there should be especial
supervisions, as the disease is often SO
mild in its early stages as not to attract
common attention; aud no child should
be allowed to attend school from an in.
fected house, until allowed to do sc
by competent physician.
In the case of young children, all rea
sonable care should be taken to prevent
undue exposure to the cold.
Pure water for drinking should be
used; avoiding communicating sources o.
supply; ventilation should be insisted
on, and local drainage must be carefully
attended to. In country towns, privief
and cesspools should be frequently
emptied and disinfected; slop watel
should not be allowed to soak into the
surface of the earth near the dwelling
houses, and the cellars should be KEEP
dry and sweet.
In cities, especially in tidal districts
basins, baths, etc, as now connected
with drains, should never communicate
directly with sleeping rooms.
In all cases Of diphtheria fully as grea
care should be taken in disinfecting thu
sick room after use, as in scarlet fever.
After death from diphtheria tn,
clothing disused should be burned o.
exposed to nearly Or quite heat o
boiling water; the body should b,
placed as early as practicable n th'
coffin, with disinfectants. and the coffil
should be tightly closed.
o. 1oooL and battar adult
also in most cases, should not attend
funeral from house in which deatl
from diphtheria has occurred. Blu
with suitable precautions. it is not nee
e'sary that the funeral should be pri
vate, provided the corpse be not in an,
way exposed.
Although it is not at present poss5l
70 remove at once all sources of epi
demic disease, yet the frequent vista
ton Of such disease, and especially it
continued prevalence, may be taken q
sufficient evidence of unsanitary sur
roundings, and of sources of sickness
to certain extent preventable.
1t should be distinctly understoo,
| that no amount OF artificial " disinfcc
tion" can ever take the place of pur
air, good water and proper drainage
which cannot be gained without pl omp
and efficient removal of all fltl
whether from slaughter-houses, etc
public buildings, crowded tenements 0
private residences. In the opinion c
the board this is likely to be don
properly only through independen
local boards OF health, the appointmer
of which in all cases we most respect
fnlly, but earnestly, urge upon th
citizens of the State.