The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-28
PROTECTION FROM PLAQUES
Something About the Value of Disin-
fectantS and How to Use Them.
A Few Hints for the Preservation of Health
Disease that Turks in Gel
lars and Back Yards.

whether cholera is coming to this city or
not, said Dr. George W. Sloan to tho reporter,
indianapolis should be cleaned up. Medical
authorities generally agree that it is largely a
disease resulting from filth that it is pro-
pagated by filth aud fourishes best
amid filthy surroundings. Not only as a pro-
lection against cholera, but other diseases,
diphtheria scarlet fever, measles, typhoid fever,
etc., people should be taught the value Of disin-
fectants, how to make them cheaply and how to
use them There are large quantities Of garbage
allowed to accumulate in back yards and in
alleys. The solid parts Of kitchen garbage
should be destroyed by burning If this cannot
be readily done a pit should be dug for them,
then cover them with ashes and they will decom-
pose without danger to human health
"Waterclosets should never be placed under
the same roof with the house in which we
dwell, nor near the we'll or cistern from which
we get our water supply. Where the closet is
already in the house, we should do the best we
can by keeping it in as good condition as posi-
BILE. The cellar is the most dangerous place
about house. It is often damp, rarely thor
oughly clean. From it arise foul and frequently
poisonous odors by day and by night. These
odors pass through every room in the house,
carrying the seeds of rheumatism, diphtheria,
consumption, ETC. The family become accus-
toned to the odor and fail to notice it, SO the
deadly work goes on as quietly as assassination
ever was done. Many persons leave vegetables
to rot in their cellars. wet cellar foretells wet
eyes upstairs. Drive out mustiness and mold
by ventilation, and by abundant use of white
wash.
'.Mold, dampness and foul smells should never
be neglected Ventilate every part OF the house
daily if possible. People cannot afford to keep
a spare room or parlor shut up until it becomes
musty Sunlight and fresh air are the best disin-
fectants known, and the cheapest Many people
think that deodorizer is a dsinfectant; that to
remove disagreeable odor is to render the cause
of that odor harmless That is very serious
mistake. The absence of odor is not to be taken
as sign that the premises are wholesome.
'As to fresh air and sunlight. where they are
not suffered to enter, the doctor, and frequently
the undertaken, will. Especially should the bed
rooms and the bed be thoroughly exposed to the
air and sunlight The bed clothing should be
hung from the backs of chairs for an hour or at
least half an hour every morning. Letin the air
and sunshine. It is much better to have faded
carpets than faded children.
Many of the agents recommended as dsinfect-
ants are often absolutely valueless in preventing
disease, and are dangerous as being productive
of false security Now that we have damp sea-
son, the rains being frequent, is the time of all
others to be exceedingly careful. The germs of
disease find conditions more favorable to propa-
cation than in cool, dry weather. large num-
Der of the people of this city are renters, and
49, ~
previous occupants of these domiciles were, OF
anything of the condition of the tenements.
The seeds of typhoid fever scarlet fever, measles
or diphtheria may linger for months about a
house, and family moving into such place
may be stricken down without knowing whence
the blow comes, or why it comes and yet there
is cause for the visitation, and that cause
might have been found and destroyed. Houses
with damp, musty, moldy foundation walls are
especially to be avoided.
LAS perfect and cheap disinfectant as is
known is that commonly called Labarraques
solution which may be made by any one as fol-
lows:
Take of sal soda common washing soda) pound
and half
Chloride of lime, pound and quarter;
Mix the latter thoroughly with quart of cold
water in stone jar with close-ftting lid; then dis
solve the soda in quart of boiling water and add to
the chloride of lime in the jar Cover WELL and when
cold add six quarts Of cold water Stir up and strain
through muslin and keep in tightly-corked jugs.
''This is one of the best dsinfectants known
It is extremely useful for disinfecting chamber
vessels, slop-j jars, etc, and for white clothing
which it does not injure in the least It is bet
ter than copperas (sulphate of irony or any other
iron mixture, as it leaves no stain upon the
goods. 1t also has the advantage of cheapness.
coed twenty-five cents. 1t slowly evolves chlor.
inc, and hence its value as germ destroyer.
For areas, cellars and damp, shady places
about yards, fresh lime, or lime and plaster of
Paris, or mixture of plaster of Paris and ep-
som salts (sulphate of magnesia) make excellent
articles for absorbing moisture and destroying
noxious gases. For foul privy vaults and sinks
fresh iime made into a milk with water, and
thrown into the same will act more promptly
than anything else, the lime having the prop
erty of absorbing the sulphuretted and carburet-
ted gases more economically than any other sub
stance. Copperas is excellent and cheap also. 1t
should always be made into solution before u.s.
ing-about one pound of copperas to gallon of
water, and from ten to twenty pounds should be
used for each privy vault The mistake should
not be made Of thinking that the substance that
smells the strongest does the most good For
rooms that require disinfecting where there has
been contagious diseases, use sulphur by burn
ing. All silver articles must be removed from
the room. as the sulphur, in burning, will black
doors tightly and burn the sui
pur in an earthern or iron dish
Il shall not presume to offer any advice to the
city Board Of Health | don't think we ever had
a more competent health board. Still do not
think they should trust to occasional efforts to
keep the city in order, and then only under the
stimulus of fear of an approaching pestilence
The city should be kept as near clean as possible
at all seasons The board should educate the
people to the necessity of cleanliness / be-
leve also it would not be amiss for them to in
struct the people, in the use of disinfectants
Some of this instruction might be conveyed by
means of posters and circulars. have no doubt
the City Council would readily make the small
appropriation necessary to spread this informa-
ton. 1t is easier to keep cholera away than to
fight it after it makes its appearance and gains a
foothold The intelligent and conscientious
physician seeks as much to prevent sickness as
10 cure it."