The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-29
Our Olio.
To Destroy Disease--Chlorine VS..
SMALLPOX.

Z To Destroy Disease VS..
SMALLPOX.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger says: The ledger supplement for
December 18th, 1880, published commu-
nication from the writer, under the first of
the above headings Illustrating the destruc
4 tive action of freshly liberated chlorine gas
on organic germs existing in the air. Sew
eral new cases of smallpox, all in quarran
tined families, at South Bethlehem, are re-
ported this week. In view of this fact |
submit some particulars of the effect of
chlorine on smallpox in particular in
stance which occurred last winter, when the
disease was epidemic in Philadelphia. with
I the hope that. through the widespread in
Auence of the Ledger, it may quickly reach
those whom it may serve.
A young woman was attacked with small
pox after the usual preliminary illness. The
/ day before the 6rst vesicles appeared she
was vaccinated too late of course, to avoid
!. the disease already established in her sys-
teAl She had never been vaccinated pre-
+ viously. She was nursed during the first
FIVE days following the appearance of the
vesieles BY a lady in the same house, whose
bed room was on the same floor a. that of
the sick-room. Immediately. following che
appearance Of the first vesiele. chlorine was
liberated in and about this room. and this
was continued for Eve DAYS The patient
said she felt mn disagreeAble effects from the
chlorine but that it seemed t0 relieve the
pain in the throat. though at times large
proportion Of the gas was diffused through
the air The chlorine destroyed all odor
arising from the disease, though the attack
was severe the vcsieles being abundant
and continent covering the face. body, the
throat. Sc. The vesicles which appeared
on the first day. and which usually change
quickly into pas,ules, retained their clear
lyuiph nearly unchanged 80 hong a. the
paiient remained in the atmosphere Her
general condition continued better than
could have been expected. considering the
nature of the disease and is extensive de-
yelopmcnt in her ease. Two or three
smaller veSicles, which developed into pus-
tules, los; their character a such when the
air WAS surehar-sd with chlorine.
The patient was removed ON the iifth day
to the Municipal Hospital There her dis
ease assumed the pustular and subsequent
conditions She remained some time on the
dangerous list. but ultimately recovered,
and Is now in gcod health. On her de-
partnre from home the family left the house
for three DAYS. during which fresh chlorine
was liberated in al parts Of il. On the
fourth day they resurncd. together With
the childrcn, who had b.sen sent away from
home when the nature of the disease was
frSs ascertainssl- Al have been well since.
The patients clothing and bedding were
sent 10 tbs Municipal Hospital. Wooden,
GAS and china ware. and metallic articles
used in the rsam WEIR washed in \ strong
solution a. chloride Of zine. and the SICK
rooIn vas scrubbed, FepapeFcd and paiuted,
and alusoss Immediately reeccupied, with no
bad results.
Rave known various other cases in which
the usc of freshly liberated chlorine has
heen efkcien, ia Hyrsso;ic diseases. bat have
net yes harmed % an instance in which
saeh disease hss been communicated ffou
= patient to a nurse or other person in the
presence q an atmosphere containing mod
crate proportion Il chlorine gas The "a
tiofale q this Is neither new nor strange
Organic germs cannot live or propagate
while chlorine gas i present Il destroys
their Substance and an atsempt to comma
nicAte organic poison from one person 70
anosher in snch an atmosphere would be ~
futile A. ihe attempt To light wood under
water In the Lso,iyeT Supplement- of Ds-
ccsnber I. 1880 the chemistry II the ne
action j. fully explained and it is, there,
fure, unnecessary 10 repeat il here. | wiil,
safely ase chlorine gas as diSinfecsant-
Put in a common tumbleF enough pow
deFsd black oxide uf manganese 20 cover
the bottom 10 the depth Of quarter of an
inch Add an equal amount of common
mariatic acid Sur with a stick. The
mixture win effcEvesee and nearly Ill the
tumhler. Keep Il AZ arm lsagsh sritA ne
faec fsraed array frosa Z, and avoid d.
rcetly inhaling the strong saifoeaiing gas.
Too much chlorine Is as dangerous as too
much smallpox. with this difference -
ChloFiRe destroys as knife cuts lajuries
caused by it io not perPetuate themselves,
and nature repairs them when the irritating
cause is removed On the other hand, tbe
products Of disease. a. Of fermentation, eam-
munie=te their vitality, and thus extend
their evil effects indefinitely II left in
room. open the window at top and botsam,
Do not leave il in sick room 10 long as 10
affect q patient unpleasanily Do not rely
on the use If chloride Of lime As a disin-
fectant in dangerous cases. II gives forth
chlorine compounds Of slight efficacy and
much bad Odor, as well as some chlorine.
Vaccination as a preventive of smallpox
is of FAY greater value than any disinfee-
tant. as il avoids the development Of the
disease within the system Small-p may
otherwise become established there. where
it is beyond the reach Of disinfectants
THE ATTENDING PHYSICIANS ENDORSE
NEST.
Mr.. EDITOR II was the physician in
attendance in the aforementioned case.
am familiar with the disease, having attend.
al a number of cases There can be no doubt
that the fresh chlorine liberated in the sick
room deeomposed the specific eontagion Of
the smallpox as fast as it was given forth
by the patient and that in this case it
greatly modified me disease in its early
stages, preventing for FIVE days the CONVEX
sion of lymph into pus in the yesicles, and
thus reducing the consequent inflammation
and loss of strength 90 the patient. | do
not hesitate 60 say that Its action was tome
surprise and matter of great interest. |
have no doubt that in two cases of equal
malingnity, one continued throughout in a
well-yentilated room, moderately charged
with pure fresh chlorine, would show i'm
portant notifications, and that the danger
Of eontagion would be thereby greatly less
ened. believe that the use of free chic
rine in all other zymotic diseases would be
attended with great benefit.
j. NJ REEVES, NJ d.,
April q, 1892 1919 Mount Vernon st.
Some curious old customs are still OBJ
served in London on Good Friday. BY
the will of Peter Symonds, made in the