The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-12-14
DIPHTIIgRIA,
Rules for the Prevention of the Terri.
BILE DiSase,

|
recently adopted tlF subjoined rules
for preventing the s pread of diphtheria
in that city. They are just as applica.
BILE here as in Philadelphia, and coun-
ellis should see to t that they are
adopted and enforced. The fact that
diphtheria is both contagious and in
fictitious. as much so rs smallpox, can
not be too deeply impressed on the
popular mind. The Philadelphia rules
are as follows: 8SE
Recent investigations having prov
ed that the poison of diphtheria is por-
table, communicable by infection and
capable of reproducing itself outside of
the human body" says the committee.
"diphtheria must now be ranked as
both a contagious and infectious dis.
ease. The following rules are there
fore more imperative than ever before:
when a child or young person has
a sore throat, bad odor to its breath,
and especially If it has fever, it should
Immediately be separated and kept Sc
cluded from all other persons except
necessary attendants until it be ascer-
tanned or not if it has diphtheria or
some other communicable disease.
Every person known to be sick
with diphtheria should be promptly
and effectually isolated from the pub
lie. Only those persons who are act.
ually necessary should have charge of
or visit the patient and these visitors
should be restricted in their inter-
course with other individuals Chill
dren residing in house where there
Is case of diphtheria should not be
permitted to attend school.
''When a case of diphtheria is fully
developed the same precaution in re-
gard to free ventilation, disposal and
disinfection of discharges, bed or body
linen and so forth, isolation during
convalesence (for management of the
corpse should death unfortunately
occur) ought to be en- torced as follows:
Have the patient PLACED in one of the
upper rooms of the house, the furthest
removed from the rest of the family |
where is to be had the best ventilation |
and isolation. The Doms should be |
instantly cleared of all curtains, car
pets, woolen goods andall unnecessary
furniture. Keep the room constantly
well vetilated by means of open win
dows and fires, if necessary. Main
tain the utmost cleanliness both with
regard to the patient and in the room.
A basin charged with CHI bride or car
bolate of lime or some other conve-
ment disinfectant should be kept
on the bed for the
patient to spit in. Change the cloth
ng of the patient as netdful, but do
lot carry it while dry through the
louse. A large vessel "a tub contain
ng water impregnated With solu-
ion of carbolic acid in the proportion
If four fluid ounces (Calvtrt's No. 4 or
no. 81 to the gallon of water should ,
Ilways stand in the room FOR the recep-
ion of all bed and body linen immedi- ,
tely on removal form the person or con- ,
act with the patient. Pocket hand<er. ,
hiefs should not he used hut small
'ieces ofrag should be employed Instead ,
or the mouth and nose, ard each piece (;
fter being once used should be imme-
lately burned. Two basins, one con-
aiming water impregnatei with SOL .
tion of carbolic acid or Iermanganite :,
f potassa and the other containing
lain water and a good supply of =
oWels, must always be ready and con- .
enient, 80 that the hands f the nurse 8
lay be at once washed afte' they have 9
cen soiled with contract with the pa.
ent. All glasses, cups and othe ves- 8
Els used by or about .he patient q
lould be scrupulously teansed be- l.
IRE being used by othe,s. The dis
harges from the bowels md kidneys
re to be received, on thei, very issue
ON the body, into vessels containing
'me disinfectant, as a solution of two
ounds of sulphate of iron in gallon d
water, or four fluid ouaccs of car. "
olic acid (Cnlvcrt's No. 81 TO a gallon L
fwaterand ndimmediately removed. No d
erson should be allowed to enter the IL
'om except those who are attending "
pom the sick. Boiling is one of the q
lrest way of disinfecting all con- b
clothing. A solution of car J
bic acid should first be added to the u
ater. Any material which cannot :
washed without injury should be q
'posed to dry heat of about 24O de- Il
'ees Fahr., or fumieated in Il closed q
lamber, as directed below. A hot \
r disinfecting chamber has been pro- p
ded on the hospital grounds, where ii
'ds, woolen goods, etc., may be dis -
fected under the direction of officers o.
'pointed by the board. All articles h
hich can be spared should be des- G,
Dyed by fire. When persons have :,
I'd the diphtheria, whether they get II
ell or die, the room which they have o.
cupied should be thoroughly cleaned ft
I'd disinfected. The furniture should
washed with strong solution of
lloralum (three or four ounces to the L
Hon of water) or, preferably, with ~ ~
rbolic acid soap. Afterwards, the a
'or and woodwork should be washed a.
ith carbolic acid soapor with chloride 81
lime and watar. apd ti,o ,.o.. IL