West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-04-24
INFECTIOUS MALAoIes.
Experience shows That Prevention Il Al
WAYS Easier Than Cure.

Experience shows That Prevention 4. Al
WAYS Easier Than Cure.
! Diphthcria is 30 infectious malady
that we can not be too familiar with its
causes and prevention. Preventing is
always easier than curing. We may do
much toward preventing in various
ways Those persons. young or old,
who have sore throat. offensive breath.
and \ fcvcriSh habit. should be secluded
from all other persons. The former
may not have diphtheria, but they have
so many of the early indications of it a.
to warrant proper Seclusion from others.
A. soon aS they are known To have this
infectious malady they should be
| promptly and thoroughly isolated from
those who are well. especially the
| young, who are always more su>cepii-
bile TO infectious diseases than are
adults The health officers, even of
rural and sparscly-Scttlcd districts,
have duties To discharge i'm restricting
the spreading of any disease that Is apt
! to bc severe and often fatal They
| should be prompt in notifying all fam
| lilies that live near houses infected with
| such diseases. SCarlatina smallpox.
or diphtheria never do any good, hut
often large amount of harm. No
| time, then, should bc lost The health
| officers of every village or town should
! consider what they ought to do i'm case
any disease of au infectious character
darc> To show It's color. These officers
| should not make haste slowly TO do
their duty in the premises. hut hasten
at once TO the discharge of their official
duty in notifying all interested that an
enemy To the health and life of their
constituents is ,lNly approaching their
| happy homes IN enemy that may pre-
| fer infancy and childhood 10 youth and
/ age.
Among the dulic, tha, are impera-
tive when thi, enemy j. supposed TO be
on his way, and whose germs are grow
! ing, Is that of Investigating the fact. un-
der the guidance OF some intelligent
physician. Bv his advice exclude the
sick, keep them in their homes. and for
bid the sick, however mild the disease
may he. To visit others We have seen
| children infected with the early indica-
tions OF diphthcrin, scarlatina and small
| poN, and yet We're coming i'm contact
with the we'll No parent, OF common
! sense and discretion would allow any
member of hi, family to transmit the
! germs Of these severe maladics. But
the truth i that these diseases are sly
in their approach. and 80 some parents
are so unsuspic'ouS Of their coming that
! they take the citadel before they alarm
! the inmates. We have seen many cases
| OF diphthcria well developed at our first
| visit IL Is wise forpareuts, when cases
| of this disease exist i'm the vicinity OF
! their homes, to examine the throats of
/ their children every day. 20 that they
may nip poison at one, and cNpcl il
! from their premises. At the outset
/ diphthcria is limited to the mouth and
! throat. but, if neglected, II, germs may
bc inhaled, enter the rapid courses OF
the blood, and extend 10 every section
of the frame.
Not only should ,hc health officials
! give notice of infected places, but
| should advise and insist that all persons
| who die OF this infectious maladv
! should be Inferred with no funeral Ger
emony more than j. absolutely neces-
| sary 10 CRAFTY the near relations. The
| caskcts in which those who have died
/ of dipthcria have been placed may be
| filled with some strong dsinfecling
/ powders, and diminish very much. il
| not entirely, the number OF living germs
| that otherwise would yitate the air.
| The health officers should know how TO
disinfect perfectly the rooms in which
! diptheritic patients have been sick and
| lied Such rooms should be cleared of
! all needless carpets, drapery, clothing,
and all other materials that retain the
| poisonous elements of this maladv.
The health officers should be- we'll in.
| formed what to do with the poisonous
secrctiOnS from the throat, mouth and
nose. Mere sccretions often transfer
/ the malady. and 50 should bc received
/ in proper vessels contain strong solu
! ton of the .ulphatc OF iron. or. if rC.
/ ceivcd on cloths, should at once be btr-
Jed at some distance from tho house, -
three hundred feet or moro. This =.
rcctiou applies equally well TO the secsl.
tions from the Kidneys and intestine.
Even the wasling- Of the skin may vl,l
be poured into some distant hole. from
which they can never rise, or run into
any well from which aater for drinking
is ever drawn - Western RylraL