Sharp County record., 1885-04-23
INFECTIOUS MALADIES.
Experience Shows That Prevention Is Al
ways Easier Than Cure.

ways Easier Than Cure
Diphtheria is so infectious a 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 feverish 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 as
to warrant proper seclusion from others
As 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 susceph-
BILE to infectious diseases than are
adults. The health officers, even OF
rural and sparsely-settled districts,
have duties to discharge in restricting
the spreading of any disease that is apt
TO be 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, but
often a large amount of harm. No
time. then, should be lost. The health
officers of every village or town should
consider what they ought to do in case
any disease of an infectious character
dares to show its colors. These officers
should not make haste slowly to do
their duty in the premises, but 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 slyly approaching their
happy hOmes-an enemy that may pre-
fer infancy and childhood to youth and
age.
Among the duties that are impera-
tive when this enemy is supposed to be
on his way, and whose germs are grow
inc, is that of investigating the fact, I'M
der the guidance of some intelligent
physician. By his advice exclude the
sick, keep them in their homes, and for
bid the sick, however mild the disease
may be, to visit others. We have seen
children infected with the early indica-
.tions OF diphtheria, Scarlatina and small
pox, and yet were coming in contact
with the we'll No parents of common
sense and discretion would allow any
member of his family to transmit the
germs of these severe maladies. But
the truth is that these diseases are sly
in their approach, and so some parents
are so unSuspicious of their coming that
they take the citadel before they alarm
the inmates. We have seen many cases
of diphtheria well developed at our first
visit. 1t is wise forparents, when cases
of this disease exist in the vicinity OF
their homes, to examine the thrOats OF
their children every do, so that they
l;l9E l5EFHi Iii a3ss ay33s6 65aa ts-alEe " 21 ezoe It II
from their premises. At the outset
diphtheria is limited to the mouth and
throat, but, if neglected, its germs may
be inhaled, enter the rapid courses OF
the blood, and extend to every section
of the frame.
not only should The health officials
give notice of infected places, but
should advise and insist that all persons
who die of this infectious malady
should be inferred with no funeral GER
emony more than is absolutely neces-
sary to CRAFTY the near relations The
caskets in which those who have died
of diptheria have been placed may be
filled with some strong disinfectlng
powders, and diminish very much, II
not entirely, the number of living germs
that otherwise would vitiate the air.
The health officers should know how to
disinfect perfectly the rooms in which
d:pthertic patients have been sick and
d;ed. Such rooms should be cleared OF
all needless carpets, drapery, clothing,
and all other materials that retain the
poisonous elements of this malady.
The health officers should be well in
formed what to do with the poisonous
secretions from the throat, mouth and
nose. Mere secretions often transfer
the malady, and so should be received
in proper vessels contain strong solu-
ton of the sulphate of iron, or, if re-
ceived on cloths, should at once be bur-
led at some distance from the house
three hundred feet or more. This di-
rection applies equally well to the secre-
tions from the kidneys and intestines.
Even the wastings of the skin may well
be poured into some distant hole, from
which they can never rise, or run into
any well from which water for drinking
is ever drawn. Western Rural.