Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-09-06
DIPHTHERIA.
It's Restriction and Prevention Issued
by the Tennessee State Board
of Health.

Diphtheria is contagious and in
fictitious disease of great severity and
frequent fatality-it is constitutional
or blood poisoning disease, and is large.
ly a preventable disease. In view of
these facts, the State Board of Health
urges upon the citizens of Tennessee
the exercise Of such precautions as ex-
perience has proven to be efectual in
its restriction and prevention, and to
this end calls attention to the following
facts and suggestions;
The evidence with regard to the
origin of diphtheria at present seems to
show conclusively that the disease
sometimes develops spontaneously, its
origin being miasm, and particularly
in certain conditions of filth; that it is
more fatal where the soil is damp and
chilly, especially on high land retains
ing moisture, that its fatality is inN
creased and its spread favored by the
presence of filth in the water used for
drinking, and particularly in the air
breathed; that, like other diseases of
Its class, its epidemic prevalence de-
ponds upon conditions of air, soil, etc.,
which are at present unknown; that
from so to 80 per cent. Of the deaths
are of children under ten years of age
and finally, that all the circumstances
giving rise to the various forms of i'll
health predispose to it. 1t is thought
that closer contact with the air, person
or thing infected is necessary to pro
duce the disease than in the case of
smallp ox, scarlet fever and measles.
The discharges and exhalations from
the nose and mouth are particularly
dangerous, and it may be carried from
one place to another and communica>
ted by means of clothing, food, sheets,
blankets, whiskers, hair, cats, dogs,
toys, furniture, books, wall paper, cur,
tains, etc., and other articles, which
have been contaminated in the sick
room, or been in contact with an in.
fected person.
AS a rule, the danger of exposure to
the disease is in proportion to the mas
lignancy of the case, but to this there
are many exceptions, and exposure to
the mildest case may be followed by
the severest form Of the disorder.
Children are most susceptible to the
disease, and may contract it in its
worst type from the kiss of an adult
who has what appears to be but tri~
vial "sore throat"
The time that elapses between expos.
ure to and the subsequent development
of diphtheria IN the person exposed,
bears some relation to the maIignarcy
of the disease and its prevalence as an
epidemic at the time. Usually it APP
pears within the first week, but in ex'
ceptional cases its appearance may be
delayed to a much later period.
1t is of the first Importance that al
outbreak of the disease should be the
signal for the immediate observance O.
those precautions which are known t.
be most efectual in the restriction O
any contagious disease, and in this re
spect the treatment should be as vigor
Gus as in case Of smallpox or scarle
fever, the one rule of most imperativ,
necessity being the isolation Of the pa
tient.
Immediately upon the appearance 0
the disease, the patient should be re
moved to a room as remote as possibl
from family occupancy. This room
should be prepared for his reception
by removing from it all superfuou
furniture, such as wooden carpets
extra clothing, books and all win
dow curtains, table spreads and othe
similar articles which cannot be subst
quently cleansed by boiling.
The room should be large and sunny
and it is better if it be in the uppe
part of the house. Particular car
should be taken to have it ventilated q
thoroughly as possible, while the pa
tent is protected from any direC
draughts, in order to dilute the poison
ed atmosphere to the utmost extern
This will be facilitated and the care {
~ sr