The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-12-22
Diphtheria.
Diphtheria-
rho Massachusetts, State Board of Health has

The Massachusetts, State Board Of Health has
| issued the following
In view of the fact that diphtheria, although
now less prevalent than in the colder months
may be expected to visit portion of our State
during the autumn and winter, it seems impor-
| tant that more thorough attempts to control the
disease should be made by the local authorities.
In the first place, as diphtheria is conta-
giOus disease, and under certain circumstances
not entirely known, very highly 40, it is impor-
| tant that all practicable means should DO taken
to separate the sick from the we'll. As il is also
| infections, wooden Clothes carpets, curtains,
hangings, ETC., should be avoided in the sick
room, and only such materials used as can he
readily washed
All clothes, when removed from the patient,
should he at once placed in hot water. Pocket
handkerchefs should be laid aside, and in their
stead soft pieces of linen or cotton cloth shonld
| be used and at once burned.
Disinfectants should always be placed in the
vessel containing the approximations, and may
be used somewhat freely in the sick-room; those
being especially usefnl to destroy bad odors with
out causing Others, (nitrate of lead, chloride of
zinc etc.
In schools there should he especial superyi-
sion, as the disease is often so mild in its early
stages not to attract common attention. and
no child should be allowed to attend school from
an infected house, until allowed to do 30 by
competent physician.
In the case Of young children, all reasonable
care should be taken to prevent undue exposure
to the cold.
Pure water for drinking should be used, avoid
ing communicating sources Of supply; ventila-
ton should be insisted on, and local drainage
must be carefully attended to- In country towns,
priyies and cesspools should be frequently emp
tied and dsinfected; slopwater should not he
allowed to soak into the surface of the earth
near the dwelling house, and the cellars should
be kept dry and sweet.
In cities, especially in tidal districts, basins
baths, ETC., now connected with drains, should
never communicate directly with sleeping rooms
In all cases Of diphtheria, fully as great care
should be taken in disnfecting the sick room,
after use, as in scarlet fever.
After death from diphtheria the clothing
nsed should be burned or exposed to nearly or
quite heat of boiling water; the body should
be placed rs early rs practicable in the coffin,
with disinfectauts, and the coffin should be
tightly closed.
Children, at least, and better adults also in
most cases, should not attend 4 funeral from
housc in which death from diphtheria has
cured. But with suitable precautions, il is not
necessary that the funeral should be private,
provided the corpse be not in any way exposed.
Although it is not at present possible to remove
at once all sources of epidemic disease, vet the
frequent visitation of such disease and especially
its continued prevalence, may be taken suffi-
Gent evidence of insanitary surroundings, and
of sources of sickness to n certain extent pre-
yentable.
1t should be distinctly understood that no
amount of artificial "disinfectionD can ever take
the place of fresh air, good water, and proper
drainage, which cannot be gained without prompt
and efficient removal of all filth, whether from
slaughter-houses, ETC., public buildings, crowded
tenaments, or private residences. In the opinion
of the board, this is likely to be done properly
only through Independent local boards Of health,
the appointment of which in all cases we most
respectfully, but earnestly, urge upon the cit
liens of the State.