Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-05
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF A
COMMON DISEASE.

! Several years ago the best minds of the
medical fraternity agreed that diphtheria,
now epidemic in some sections, is not
only preventable in a large degree,
but of such character that to check its
spread a species of quarantine is necessary.
In cases of yellow fever and smallpox there
is comparatively little difficulty expert
enced in isolating patients, because the
general public are convinced of the wis
dom of such a course But it is a very
different matter with diphtheria. Its vic
! Tins are, in nine cases out of ten, children,
and these occupy 50 close relation to those
| having them in charge that isolation OF
patients is a matter only the most courage
Gus physicians endeavor to enforce. 1t does
appear to be cruel, when the pet of the
household is attacked with this dread
disease, to cut off all communication be-
tween the patient and the other members
of the family. 1t is task the painfulneSs
of which is only appreciated by those who
have had experience, to bring about such
separation between children and parents,
as in this: disease is absolutely necessary,
or to insist upon the non-observance of the
usual funeral ceremonies in case of death
caused by diphtheria
If sanitary science has demonstrated
anything whatever it has established these
truths; That on the appearance of diph-
liberia in family, every member of it not
absolutely necessary for the nursing, should
be removed, or isolated from the atmos-
phere of the sick chamber; that the pa
rents who watch with the child should not
only not embrace it, or unnecessarily come
within the immediate influence of its ex-
halatOns but must not, under any circum-
stances have personal association with the
other children of the family, or, for the
matter of that, with adults; that
generally similar precautions to those taken
in cases of smallpox should obtain in cases
of diphtheria; that the disposal of the ex-
lfcretions of the patient should be made with
such care as to absolutely render them in
capable of harm; that the clothing of the
patient and the fabrics used in the sick
room should be treated as is done in the
ease of other contagious diseases; that iii
the event of death the public funeral should
be waived, and the interment be strictly
private, and especially that children should
not be allowed to attend; also, that the
body should be as speedily as may be sealed
from the atmosphere, and every other pre-
caution taken that obtains on death from
virulent, contagious diseases.
Now these precautions cannot be en-
forced by the family physician, and in the
case of the very poor are difficult of en-
forcement at all In spite of medical ad-
vice diphtheria patients are seldom
isolated, even where it may easily be done
the spread of the disease is not guarded
against, and the burial, in case of death, is
conducted openly In some places in
this country and in Europe such progress
has been made however, as the enactment
of ordinances to identify and publicly mark
houses where diphtheria prevails and to
secure the private burial of the victims of
its fatality.
In Amsterdam, y. Y, not long ago,
diphtheria appeared in family; two chill
dren died at considerable intervals and a
third was seized with the disease. The
local Board of Health resolved to investi-
gate the matter 1t was found that the
sanitary conditions of the house and
grounds were not by any means bad. But
it developed that the first child taken had
been fondling cat that appeared to have
swollen throat, and that subse-
quently had discharges from the eyes and
nose and soon after died. Three days after
the death of the animal the child was
taken with malignant diphtheria, and died
in a short time. During its illness the lit
tie one PLAYED with and kept by its side a
favorite doll. On the death occurring, the
room was fumigated, and this doll was
treated with the fumes of sulphur. A
| younger child was heir to the plaything
That child fell i'll of diphtheria and died
The third child, some time after, played
with the doll, and this little one also fell
i'll with diphtheria, but was saved from
death This is but one of scores of cases
proving the communicability of the dis
ease. In one instance in France out of fif-
teen children who attended the funeral OF
a playmate who died of the disease, and
viewed the remains in an open coffin, nine
were taken with diphtheria within week,
and four died. In case in Indiana last