St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
efnr he Bnnsrhnld.
DcstrOyers Of COntaGiOn.

Modern science has let in flood of
light upon the cause of many illnesses.
and the nature of the contagia upon
which their propagation depends.
Not only has the cause of disease been
traced to agents external to the body,
but the exact form of these disturbing
organisms has been pointed out. They
consist of minute PARTICLES, probably
i'm most or all eases of a vegetable ma
turc they are therefore non gaseous,
and in no respect cOmport themselves
like gaseous bodies.
The contagious principle of fever is
corkscrew- spirilla in other dis
eases it appears as large motiOnlcss
rod others as a solid body, ragged,
and nearly round. These bodies float
in the atmosphere in clouds, and when
inhaled, or when they come in contact
with abraidcd surfaces, inoculation
occurs, and the disease is of the type
peculiar to the nature of the specific
poison. The bodies start i'll the circu-
lation a morbid chemical action, OF
serve as IL fcrment, which disturbs or
devitalizcs the blood, and thus produces
most serious illnesses.
Malarial fever, measles, diphtheria,
scarlet fever, smallpox, and many 9th
er alarming diseases result from blood
poisoning through the action of these
curious external agents. So long as
the nature of the noXious material was
unknown, the chemical agents, as dis
infectants, dcOdOrants. antisepticS, etc,
were selected to satisfy the most VaTi-
Gus and diSsimilar theories as to its ma
turc and properties but since a better
understanding has been reached, Il more
intelligent and scientific selection and
use of these substances can he made.
1t is important that in families where
cases of ZymOtic diseases prevail, ac-
curatc knowledge should he possessed
as to the methods of preventing Il
| spread of the cOntagiOn. Every ply
sician should he well informed on this
subject, but unfortunately some of them
are not.
OF course, the septic germs, in cases
of smallpox, diphthcria, etc, fall upon
the floors and walls of rooms, upon
the bed, and upon the clothing of at
tendants. Upon these deposits the
usual solid or liquid disinfectants eX-
posed in the room have little or no eff
feet nothing but thorough cleansing
and ventilation, with the use of case
eus disinfcctants, will cXpel them. The
best method to disinfect clothing is by
the use of heat clothing placed in Il
hot box two hours, with dry heat above
that of boiling water, is thoroughly
disinfcctcd or it may be soaked in
boiling water to the same result.
Vaccine matter may he taken as the
| type of Il virulcnt material, and eXper
imcnts upon this poison prove that
dsinfectants, to be etfcctual, must be
used i'll much larger quantity than has
usually been considered necessary. If
the destroying agent is of an acid ma
turc, the virus must he rendered per
mancntly and strongly acid. The end
desired is to destroy the infective
power completely. 1t is not generally
known that carbolic acid, in quantity
equal to , per cent. of the virus, is in
capable of doing this work upon vac
cine virus. 1t deprives it of its infec-
tive power for the time being, but this
returns as soon as the carbOlic acid has
escaped through exposure to the air.
Chlorine is Il gaseous body, and is
in ordinary cases an effective disinfec-
tant. 1t is, however, inferior to sui
phurous acid; this is the most valu-
able agent we have, but unfortunately
is not safe in inexperienced hands. A
room in which II case of infectious dis
ease has been placed can bc thoroughly
clcansed by burning a little sulphur in
the absence of the inmates. The sui
phurous acid is a gas exceedingly disa-
greeable and irrcspirablc, and great
caution is necessary in its use.
Chloride of lime, freely used, is Il
good disinicctant; but when it is
placed in vessels in small quantities in
sick-rOoms, or sparingly sprinklcd i'll
drains, it has but slight influence as IA
destroyer of cOntagion. CarbOlatc of
lime is a cheap and good disinfectant,
but it must bc used in large amounts
to he useful. Several of the metallic
salts have powerful antiseptic proper
ties; for example, the protOSulphatc of
iron. This salt, in strong solution, is Il
valuable agent, and is worthy OF
notice. At this point it should he
stated that carbolic acid and the me-
taIlic salts, used in small quantities,
are prCScrVatIvC agents, and may aCtu-
ally prOlong the life of cOntagium by
, preventing its destruction through
natural processes.
There are numerous patented "anti-
scpticsn and ''disinfectants," which are
perfectly worthless so far as any influ-
cncc upon septic germs is concerned
1t is very important that heads of fam
lilies, and especially physicians, should
clearly understand what is required
when selecting AN agent for practical
use. Contagious particles of all form'
are imbcddcd in an cpithelial or albu
minous covering, and they do not
yield their vitality readily, and never
to improper agents. There's are good
deodorants which arrest putrefactiOr
and fermentation, and yet completely
fail to destroy contagious PARTICLES
i :.