Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-13
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DIPHTHERrA.

The law requires the State Board of
Health TO gather and disseminate among
the people information to conserve the pub
lie health. In pursuance of that direction
the Board has sent out circular letter on
diphtheris, disease becoming alarmingly
prevalent It points out that the con-
tagious and infectious character of diphthe-
ria have been demonstrated. Yet concern
ing it people are as reckless as ever. They
have far more cause to fear it than small
pox, yet they take none Of the precautions
in the first case that they do in the latter.
The patients are not isolated, the bed
clothing is not destroyed or disinfected,
the family live on in the atmosphere of the
sick room, friends visit the sick and stand
over them without ordinary precautions,
and funerals of the victims are publicly at
tended. In view of these facts it is hardly
worth while to expect that the circular Of
the Board of Health will be needed. Ere.
quently such circulars have been issued,
but no particular attention appears to have
been paid to them by authorities or citi-
zens. However, these are the significant
points made by the Board Diphtheria is a
preventable disease filth is its ia.
vorite coil; its ravagea are largely
due to neglect the discharges from
the body of the patient disseminate the
disease; domestic animals that frequent
the sick room will convey the contagion
therefrom to others. The remedies are
st-ict isolation OF the sick ]; absolute ex-
clusion of all but the necessary nurse and
physician abundance of fresh air in the
sick room without draught; removal of
carpets, curtains, etc.; disinfection of
excavations. discharges from the eyes, ears,
mouth and nose; soaking of all cloths and
clothing in disinfecting solutions before re-
moval from the room, and subsequent
boiling non-communication by the nurses
with others of the family. In case OF
death, wash the body in disinfecting
liquid, inclose in tight coffin, burn the
clothing and hold the funeral privately. II
the patient RECEIVERS keep him apart from
the family until all his clothing has been
sinfected-infected clothing will convey
the disease for months. Thoroughly dis
infect the room, rip up all upholstered
furniture, fumigate the apartment and
wash alI the woodwork. To prevent
diphtheria absolute cleanliness about the
dwelling is insisted upon have no accu.
mutation of decaying animal or vegetable
matter near ; trap all house drains and
ventilate them; disconnect all sewer
drains from house drains. This precau-
ton we have urged upon the City Trus.
tees to enforce by ordinance, and it will
probably be done after the next epidemic
of diphtheria.) Keep cellars dry and
clean protect water.supply pipes against
slop water and other filthy liquids thrown
near them; avoid saturation of the soil by
uucemented vaults near water pipes or
wells. The Board calls attention to the
necessity of looking upon sore throat with
suspicion, and adds that diphtheria often
occurs in a mild form, but from the mildegt
cases the most malignant may result, and
hence it is that in schools there is such
danger from the dread disease.