The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-02-09
AN OUNOE OF PREVENTION.


II is possible we shall not have any
cases of smallpox in this city OF vicin-
lty, but with the disease existing in 50
many places, and in population SO con-
stantly changing by the arrival of
strangers from all quarters Of the county
It will be singular If we escape the az
Fiction. We may consider ourselves ex-
tremely fortunate so far and we trust We
shall escape entirely. But In view of
the danger 1t will be wise to use every
prccautiOn to keep the disease from our
midst, and to prevent Its spread should
it make its appearance. The following
suggestions from Food and Health !"
n recognized authority in sanitary
matters, seem to US to contain good
sense and may prove valuable.
In all sickness we believe good doctor
should be called, but sometimes these
arc not available, and people have to re-
ly upon their own knowledge TO relieve
the danger and suffering. The follow
ing certainly can do no harm, to say the
least:
"a writer in that journal declares that
small-p ox is a disease created by neglect
of the laws of nature. Over rich nour-
ishment, or inferior nourishment, neg
lcct of strength supporting food; neglect
OF food containing sulphur, phosphorus
and iron, and neglect of food containing
acids, are q few of its causes. Neglect
in dealing with the evaporation of the
skin Is another cause. Old clothing,
rooms that have no fresh air admitted 10
them, and are stuffed up with furniture
are further causes; houses through
which No draft ever passes, another
uncleaned places, with garbage about
another; sewer gas, another; want Of
personal cleanliness, another. Whenev
err evil conditions prevail, especially In
neighborhoods that are not blessed with
| tie best air, smallpox will take root
| The writer claims that one of the mos
| effective means to prevent the poison
from spreading and intensifying is the
use of the fumes of vinegar. "If person!
| who are and have been in contact with
smallpox patients will breathe thesC
vinegar fumes it will be u sure prevent
i've of contagation." Sponging the
body off with water in which vinegar
has been mixed is recommended, AND
drinking vinegar and waller occasional
ly. AS to preventive diet and clothing
to be worn, the writer recommends tina
less meat and more fish be eaten Il
supplement this with green vegetable
as much as possible; to drink tea anC
little coffee, or none at all to take mill
every day; TO avoid all greasy dishei
and salt meats, heavy pies and cakes
thick soups, and everything of heat
ing character; TO do everything to keel
the heat of the blood temperate, and no
to overhead it by any means; to drink
no rum, whisky, or ale; to chang
clothing often; to keep no flannel cloth
ing on longer than few days; to wea
silk or cotton dress rather than I
wooden one; to keep the neck free from
all impediments, and put aside furs 70
the time altogether.
The state board of health of Illinois
says that smallpox has broken out II
ninely-two localities and forty-nin
counties in that state. The per centag
of deaths occurring is very high. Tn,
president of the board advises every
body to be vaccinated with bovine virus
DIR. De Wolf, president of the Chicago
board of health, says that II per cent
of small pox cases prove fatal, under oil
binary circumstances; while not NOR
than Is per cent. of those sick will
| OlpulncTlA ldli W EcCONcE. nc Iuttuc
says:
1.-The medical fraternity, with appar
ent indifference TO law, have almost en-
tirely neglected to report cases of diph
iberia. II is always raging, and its vic
TINS ut the years end are surprisingl,
large; observation would indicate tina
il is much more fatal than smallpox
1t seldom enters family in its virulen
form without taking majority, If no
all, of the children. Smallpox seldom
gets more than one victim, even though
whole family of unvaccinated person.
are attacked. Smallpox is far more con
tagious than diphtheria, and RACES mos
violently among those who pay little at
tention to sanitation. During the fivl
years from 1876 to 1881, inclusive, Their
were 2'625 deaths from diphtheriai in thi
city, and only 1877 from smallpox. II
Philadelphia the deaths from scarle
fever for the twelve years from 1858 Il
1870, inclusive, were 1884, an average o
4S5. During the same time the death
from smallpox numbered 5,203, an av
eTage of ABS, and yet in 1871 and 1877.
the latter disease was epidemic, ant
millions of dollars were spent TO checl
its spread. But Giphlheria and scarle
fever are limited, practically, TO chill
dren, while small pOx RACES among PEG
pie of all ages. With the protection
which vaccination affords, there nee'
not be the slightest alarm over small
| nONp