Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-13
PROTECTION AGAINST INFECTION.
A Circular from the New York Board
Of Health with Specific Directions.


The Board of Health of New York has issued
| for general distribution the following instruc
| tions for disinfection to follow which will pro
| tect any house against danger from infectious
| disease:
DIsINFECTANTs TO BE EMPLoYED.
1. ROLL SULPHUR (brimstone) for fumiga
| ton.
2. COPPERAs SoLUTION.-This solution II
| made by dissolving copperas (sulphate of iron
| in water in the proportion of one and a hal
| pounds to the gallon, and is used for disinfect
ing privies, water Closets cellars, drains, sewers
g. ZINC SOLUTION.-This solution is made by
dissolving four ounces of sulphate of zinc (white
vitrioD and two ounces of common salt together
In one gallon of water, and Is used for diSinfect
| ing clothing, bed linen, etc.
| 4. CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE SoLUTIoN.-This
Corrosive sublmate (bi.chioride Of mercury in
| pint of water, and is used for disinfectng the
| discharges from persons sick with cholera and
| veyed by the excavations To the discharges Of
a sick person should be added an equal guam
tity of the solution. As this solution is q dan
gerOus poison, it should be prepared and used
| under the direction of a physician or chemist
| 5. CHLORIDE OF LIME SoLUTIoN.-Dissolve
water, in the proportion of four ounces to the
gallon. Use one pint of this solution TOR the dis
| infection OF each discharge of cholera and ty
phoid fever. Leave the disinfectant in the yes
| sci for at least fifteen minutes before throwing
| 1t into the privy vault or water-closet.
las chloride de, Of lime when exposed to the all
| cured in bottles tightly corked, which should
not be opened until the article Is needed fol
| use.
HOW TO USE DIsINFECTANTs.
1. PREMIsEs.-Cellars, yards, stables, cutters
privies, cesspools water-closets, drains, sewers
| etc., should be frequently and literally treated
with cOpperas solution. The copperas solution
| is easily prepared by hanging basket or bag
| containing about sixty. pounds of copperas in 8
barrel of water.
agents arc fresh air and cleanliness. The cloth
| ing, towels, bed linen. etc, should, on remova
from the room, be placed in a pail or tub Of the
zinc solution, boiling hot, if possible.
All discharges should either be received in
vessels containing sublimate or chloride o.
| lime solution, or, when this is impracticablc
should be Immediately covered with such sou
ton: All vessels used about the patient should
| be clcaDscd with the same solution.
Unnecessary furniture, especially that which
| is stuffed, carpets and hangings, should, when
possible pc, De removed from the room at the out
quent tumigation and treatment.
.. Fumigttion with sulphur is the most prac
ticable method for disinfectiny the house. Fol-
this purpose the rooms to be disinfected must
| be vacated. Heavy clothing, blankets, bedding
and other articles which cannot be treated with
during fumfgation, as directed below. Close the
rooms as tightly as possible, place the sulphur
III iron pans supported ulOn bricks placed III
Washtubs containing little water, set it on fire
by hot Goals or with the aid of spoonful of al
cohol, and allow the room to remain closed for
twenty-four hours. For room about ten feet
square at least two pounds of sulphur should
be used; for large rooms proportionately in
creased quantities.
4. BODY AND BED CLOTHING, ETC.-It is best
10 burn all articles which have been in contact
with persons sick with contag ious or infectious
diseases. Articles too valuable TO be destroyed
should be treated as follows: Cotton linen, fan.
nels, blankets, etc., should be treated with the
bOllinS-hot zinc solution; introduce piece by
piece, secure thorough wetting, and boil for at
least half an hour.
Heavy wooden clothing, silks, flrs. stuffed
bed covers beds. and other articles which can
not be treated with the zinc solution, should be
hung in the room during fumgation, their sur
iaces thoroughly exposed, and pockets turned
inside out. Afterward they should be hung in
the open air. beaten and shaken. Pillows, beds,
stuffed mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc,
may be cut open, the contents spread out and
thoroughly fumi.ated. Carpets are best fumi-
gated on the floor, but should afterwards be
removed to the open air and thoroughly beaten.
8. COrpses should be thoroughly washed with
zinc solution of double strength: should then
be wrapped in q sheet, wet with the zinc solll-
ton and buried at once.
Metallic, metal-lined, or air tight collins
should be used when possible; certainly when
the body is TO be transported for any consider.
able distance.