The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-02-07

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described above.
1t is best to burn all articles which
have been in contact with persons sick
with contagious or infectious diseases.
Articles to be burned should be thor
oughly and quickly burned, SO as not to
difuse the poison. In the glowing fur
mace under large engine-boiler is a
good place. If the burning is done in
the open air it should be far from dwell
ings and by a quick, strong fire. Arti-
cles too valuable to be destroyed should
be exposed for one hour to dry heat
of from 24o deg. F. to $50 deg. F., or
be treated as follows:
Cotton, linen, fannels, etc., should
be treated with the boiling-hot zinc So
lution,- introducing them piece by piece,
securing thorough wetting and boiling
for least haitian hour. Heavy woolen
clothing, silks, furs, stuffed bedcovers,
beds and other articles which cannot be
treated with the zinc solution, should
be hung in the room during fumigation,
pockets being turned inside-out and
the whole garment being thoroughly
exposed. Afterward they should be
hung in the open air, beaten and shaken.
Carpets are best fumigated on the floor,
but should afterward be removed to the
open air and thoroughly beaten. Pill
lows, beds, stuffed mattresses, uphol-
stored furniture, etc., after being disin-
fected on the outside, may be cut open
and their contents again exposed to
fumes of burning sulphur. In no case
should the thorough disinfection of
clothing, bedding, etc., be omitted.
Infected clothing and bedding have
been known to communicate diphtheria
months after their infection.
The methods of disinfection above
set out apply to other contagious dis
eases.
Disinfection of room always neces-
states vacating it, and sometimes makes
it impossible to remain in adjoining
rooms, therefore, in some cases, it
seems essential to have hospital, tent or
other temporary shelter for the inmates
of infected houses, where bathing, dis
infection and washing can be done
while such houses are being disinfected
and put in order. On this subject To-
cal Boards of Health should be consult
ed, and should be prepared to act.
TO AVOID TAKING DIPHTHERIA.
Avoid the special contagion of the
disease. This is especially important
to be observed by children and all
whose throats are sore from any cause.
Children under ten years of age are in
much greater danger of death from
diphtheria than are adults; but adult
persons often get and spread the dis
ease, and sometimes die from it. Mild
cases in adults may cause fatal cases
among children. Because of these facts
it is frequently dangerous for children
to go where adult persons go with al
most perfect safety to themselves.
Do not let child go near case of
diphtheria. Do not permit any person
or thing, or a dog, cat, or other animal
to come direct from case of diphthe-
ria to a child. Unless your services
are needed, keep away from the disease
yourself. If you do visit case, bathe
yourself and change and disinfect your
clothing before you go where there is a
child.
1t is probable that the contagion of
diphtheria may retain its virulence for
some time, and be carried long dis
tance in various substances and articles
in which it may have found Judgement.
Diphtheria contracted from germs car
ried several blocks in a sewer, may,
perhaps, be as fatal as when contracted
by direct exposure to one sick with it.
While it is not definitely proved that
the germs of diphtheria are propagated
in any substance outside the living hu-
man or animal body, it is possible that
they may be found to be thus propaga-
ted. Therefore, and because the
breathing of air laden with emanation
from decaying fruit, vegetable or meat,
or from sewers, cesspools, sinks and
other receptacles of filth, is believed
to endanger health, great care should
be taken to have the house, premises,
and everything connected with dwell
ings, kept clean and dry; to have sewer
connections well trapped and house
drains constantly well ventilated, and
to have all carriers of filth well disinfect
ed. Do not permit child to enter q
privy, water-closet, or breathe the all
from the water-closet, sewer, &C., into
which discharges from persons sick with
diphtheria have entered, nor to drink
water or milk which has been exposed
to such air.
Do not permit a child to ride in a
hack or other closed carriage in which
has been a person sick with diphtheria
except the carriage has since been thor
oughly disinfected with fumes of burn
ing sulphur.
All influences which cause sore throat:
probably tend to promote the taking
and spreading of this disease. Among
the conditions external to the body
liable to spread diphtheria, perhaps the
most common are infected air, infected
| water dIlu COuldCt Will lhlSNlSO ouO
stances or persons. Because of this
and as means of lessening the dangel
of contracting other diseases, the fol
lowing precautions should always bt
taken, but more particularly during th'
prevalence of any such disease as diph
liberia: Avoid exposure to wind and tt
breathing cold, dry air; also the use o
strong vinegar or any other article o
food which tends to make the throa
raw or tender. Do not wear or handl
clothing worn by person during sick
ness or convalescence from diphtherla
Beware of any person who has a sor
throat. Do not kiss or take the breatl
of such person. Do not drink from
the same cup, blow the same whistle o
put his pencil or pen in your mouth.
Beware Of crowded assemblies in un
ventilated rooms.
Do not drink water which has ba'
taste or odor, or which comes from
source that renders it liable to be i'm
nure especiallv If there is reason to be