Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-06
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Saa Francisco Board of Health Concern
ing Djphtharia and Scarlet Fever.

Saa Francisco Board of Health concern
ing Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever.
The Board of Health of San Francisco,
after having fully examined into and con-
sidered the subject of diphtheria and scar
let fever as contagious diseases, and the
means necessary to prevent the communi-
cation and spread of the same, mas adopted
the following;
l. Upon receiving information of any
case of diphtheria or scarlet fever, the
Health Officer shall send to the house
where the disease has occurred, the Board
of Health circular of information No. l,
upon the sanitary management OF dlphthe-
ria and scarlet fever
2. On the termination sof the cases by
death, or otherwise, he shall cause the in
fected rooms TO be disinfected in the most
thorough manner, with the consent OF the
occupants.
3. As soon as the Health Officer finds
that any case of diphtheria has occurred
without being reported at once, or being re-
ported within twenty-four hours of the oc-
currence of death, he shall cause the case to
be investigated, and upon reasonable sus-
picion of neglect of compliance with the
lay by the attending physician, shall pros
ecute him according to law.
4. The Health Officer shall Immediately,
upon reports of cases of scarlet fever or
diphtheria being received By him, notify
/ the Principals of the adjacent public
schools that it will be dangerous to the
public health for children from that fam
| lily TO attend school until they get certiti-
| cate of safety from him. He shall also
notify the officers in charge of public libra
ries, SO that they may refuse books TO IN
| fected families.
). The Health Officer shall give permits
as to the safety for children to attend school
or draw books upon sufficient evidence
shown him.
I The committee also presented two circu-
| lars to the public, setting forth the symp-
| toms Of diphtheria, scarlet fever ETC., and
| the ordinary methods of preventing those
| diseases. One circular was devoted to the
| means of preventing these diseases, and
another to the modes of treatment and SAN
itary measures necessary.
Some discussion ensued over whether the
Board should recommend the use of disin-
fectants, and other details of the circulars,
after which the report was adopted and the
documents ordered printed.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.
The Board also adopted the following
circular, and have caused it to be published
n the city papers, on the prevention and
restriction of diphtheria and scarlet fever
A large part of sickness and death arises
from diphtheria, scarlet fever and small
pox, all of which are highly infectious,
and can be prevented by few simple pre-
cautions on the part of householders or
heads of families.
The germs by which these diseases are
communicated are contained in the dis
i, ha
bowels. in the breath, and in the dust from
the skin. These disease germs are given
off from those sick, and, floating in the air
as dust, are inhaled or swallowed, or are
otherwise inhaled or swallowed, or are
touched by well persons, who thereby take
the disease. These germs are alive, but
their life and power to cause disease is de-
stroyed by boiling water, dry heat enough
to bake bread, and by contact with the
stronger disinfectants. The kissing of
children at the schools should be discour-
aged during the prevalence of diphtheria.
.To AVOID SCARLET FEVER AND DIPHTHERIA.
Do not let a child go near a case ofscarlet
fever or diphtheria. Do not let any person
| or thing come from such a case to a child.
Do not 20 yourself unless absolutely re-
quired. Do not neglect to change your
clothes, to battle and disinfect yourself be-
fore You go where there is a child, if you
should visit such 4 case. DO not permit
child to 90 into or near q water closet or
cesspool into which non-disinfccted dis
charges from these diseases have been
thrown, nor to drink water or milk which
has been infected.
TO RESTRICT DIPHTHERTA AND SCARLET FEVER.
Whenever a child has a sore throat and
fever, and especially when this is accom-
panied by rash on the body, the child
should he separated as completely as posi-
bic from all the members of the family
WuV physician has seen it, aud deter
mined the disease.
All persons known to be sick with these
diseases (even those but mildly sick should
be promptly and thoroughly isolated from
the public.
Persons who are attending upon children
or other persons sick with these diseases
should not mingle with other people, nor
permit the entrance of other children into
the house.
The room in which one sick with diph-
iberia or ,arlet fever is placed, should be
3rcriously cleared of all needless clothing,
carpets curtains, drapery and other ma
terials likely to harbor the poison Of the
disease, except such articles as are essential
to the comfort or treatment of the patient.
The sick-room may have no carpets or
only pieces which can afterwards be de-
stroyed. There should be a liberal supply
of fresh air, but without drafts.
Handkerchief that need to be saved
should not be used dy the patient, but in
stead small pieces Of rags, which should be
burned as soon as used.
Soiled towels. clothing, bed linen, etc,
should be removed from the patient and
before reHlGyal from the room, be placed in
a pail or tub of boiling hot water in each
gallon of which is placed sulphate of zinc
two ounces. common salt two ounces.
The discharges froIa the mouth, nose,
throat, bowels and kidneys should be re-
ceived into vessels containing chloride of
lime, or the sulphate of zine solution just
mentioned, which destroys other active
poison
No discharges should be thrown into
watercloset or cesspool unless previously
so disintected.
All cups glasses and spoons used in the
sick-room should at once on removal from
the sick-rooin be washed in boiling water.
Food and drink that have been in the
sick-room or otherwise infected should be
destroyed 1t Is best that it should be
thrown into the swill barrel.
Unless there is Il special nurse for a child
sick with diphthcria or scarlet fever, who
remains in the sick-room, the attendant
should wear in the sick-rOom large apron,
covering the chest and arms, which should
always be removed on coming out of the
sick-room 10 mingle with the rest of the
family.
After the termination of the case an
officer Of the Board of Health will disin-
feet the rooms occupied without injury to
the furniture.
The disinfectants above mentioned can
be obtained free of charge (by poor people,
on application at the Board of Health