Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-04
Diphtheria.
Treatment Suggested by the PhiIadel-
 phfn Board of Health.

Treatment Suggested by the PhiIadel-
 ph1n Board of Health.
 In order to prevent the spread of diphthe-
 ria and to inform the public of the best
 means of checking the disease, and to pro-
 vide the people with rules for treating the
 distemper, the Philadelphia Board of Health
 appointed special committee to prepare a
 report on the subject. The committee,
 through Dr. Richardson, the chairman, laid
 before the board it's report.
 'SRecent investigations having proved that
 the poison of diphtheria is portable, commu- nicable by infection, and capable of reprodu- cing itself outside of the human body, :" says the committee, 'diphtheria must now be re- marked as both contagious and infectious disease. The following rules are, therefore,
 more imperative than ever before:
 "When child or young person has a sore throat, bad odor to it's breath, and especial ly if it has fever, it should immediately be separated and kept secluded from all other persons, except necessary attendants, until it be ascertained or not if it has diphtheria or some other communicable disease.
 ''EVery person known to be sick with diph- theria should be promptly and effectually iso- lated from the public. Only those persons charge of or visit the patient, and these per sons should be restricted in their intercourse with other individuals. Children residing in a house where there is a case of diphtheria should not be permitted to attend school
 t'When a case of diphtheria is fully de- veloped the same precautions in regard to free ventilation, disposal and disinfection of discharges, bed and body linen and so forth, isolation during convalescence Cor manage ment of the corpse should death unfortu- nately occur) ought to be enforced as fol- lows Have the patient placed in one of the upper rooms of the house, the furthest re- moved from the rest of the family, where are koI Io LoI k1a The room should be instantly cleared of all curtains, carpets, woolen goods and all un- necessary furniture. Keep the room con- stantly well ventilated by means of open windows and fires, if necessary. Maintain the utmost cleanliness both with regard to the patient and in the room. basin charged with chloride or carbolate of lime or some other convenient disinfectant should be kept constantly on the bed for the patient to spit in. Change the clothing of the pa- tient as often as needful, but do not carry it while dry through the house. A large vessel Ca tub) containing water impregnated with solution of carbolic acid in the proportion of four fluid ounces (Calvert's No. or No. ) to the gallon of water should always stand in the room for the reception of all bed and body linen immediately upon removal from the person or contact with the patient Pocket handkerchiefs should not be used but small pieces of rag should be employed instead for wiping the mouth and nose. and each piece after being once used should be immediately burned. Two basins, one con- taining water impregnated with solution of carbolic acid or permanganate of potassa, and the other containing pure water and a good supply of towels, must always be ready and convenient, so that the hands of the nurse may be at once washed after they have been soiled by contact with the patient. All glasses, cups and other vessels used by or about the patient should be scrupulously cleaned before being used by others. The discharges from the bowels and kidneys are to be received, on their very issue from the body, into vessels containing some disinfect- ant. as a solution of two pounds of sulphate of iron in gallon of water, or four fluid ounces of carbolic acid (Calvert's No. 3 to gallon of water, and immediately removed No person should be allowed to enter the room except those who are attending upon the sick. Boiling is one of the surest ways of disinfecting all contaminated clothing. A solution of carbolic acid should first be added to the water. Any material which cannot be washed without injury should be exposed to dry heat of about 240 degrees Fahrenheit, or fumigated in 8 closed chamber, as directed below. A hot air dIsinfecting chamber has been provided on the hospital grounds, where beds, woolen goods, etc., may be dis infected under direction of officers appoint ed by the board All articles which can be spared should be destroyed by fire. Whsn 1 persons have had the diphtheria, whether they get well or die, the room which they 1 have occupied should be thoroughly cleaned | and disinfected. The furniture should be l washed with strong solution of chloralum 1 three or four ounces to the gallon of water), 1 or, preferably, with carbolic acid and soap. l Afterward the floor and wood work should be ! washed with carbolic acid soap, or with | chloride of lime and water, and the paper | should be removed by moistening with chlo- | .alum or carbolic acid solution. Then after closing the doors, windows and all other openings, the room should be fumigated by | burning sulphur in an iron dish and kept | .iosed for several hours. Chlorine gas may oe used instead, and may be generated by pouring strong sulphuric acid upon equal parts of common salt and binoxide of man yanese, to which some water has been added After this the room should be well aired for everal days by throwing open the doors and windows, and then the ceiling should be and the wall re-papered or 
 It is particularly important that persons whose throats are tender or sore from any ause should avoid possible exposure to the ontagion of diphtheria. Children under en years of age are in much greater danger