The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-08-06
DIPHTHERIA.
Its Prevention and Restriction.
Rules Issued by the state Board OF
Health.

Diphthera is a contagious and infectious dis
ease, attacking persons of all ages but affecting
children much more frequently than it does adults.
1t may be communicated from the sick to the well
by means of spoons, cups, or other articles which
pass from mouth to mouth, or through the medium
OF the air, or it may be spread by means Of in
fected clothing.
So generally is diphthera regarded as due to
unsanitary conditions that by common consent 1t
is elassed among the ''flth diseases; and when
we find it arising, apparently independently Of
sources of infection, spontaneously as it would
seem, we may be pretty sure that something is
wrong in the health condition of the home where
it is found.
The unsanitary conditions which seem to give rise
to odphtheria may be in the direction of the food or
water supply; the well may be too near the priyy
or cess-pool, or sink drain, or barnyard, and be
polluted by soakage through the filthy soil; or the
something wrong may be in the direction Of the
air supply; the sleeping rooms and living rooms
are perhaps not ventilated and the air is re-
0reathed and repoisoned, or wet and foul cellar
is under theshouse, or sewer gas goes into the
rooms from defective water closets or other Ak
lures, or from sink drains, or prvies, or cess
pools.
When once diphtheria has arisen the law Of
simple eontagion carries it to the rich and the
poor, to the cleanly and the uncleany but not to
all alike. Filth invites disease and gives its germs
the most congenial soil in which to develop into
pestllence; , but cleanliness offers only barren
DtpAttherid is q pregentoble disease. Proper
preventive measures are almost invariably fol-
case or cases. When diphtheria gets away from
the primary cases and makes its escape upon the
community, somebody is TO blame.
PREVENTION
Keep away from the sources of the contagiOn
Do not go where the disease is If you can help it
and, above all, do not let your children go where
lt IT'S Is Permit no one to come to your house who
From the dwelling and its vicinity Danish all
sources OF ht whether OF the ground, of the
water or OF the air. The ground under and around
the house. if not naturally dry, Should be
thoroughly and deeply drained.
Dlphtheria does not come from far through the
thinking thereby to shut out the disease By So
doing you shut IN the poison of rebreathed air
poison of diphtheria to claim your children. Let
the sunshine in by day and the pure air both by
day and night. When diphtheria is prevalent,
avoid all crowded gatherings; especially keep
children from such places.
What is apparently only common sore throat
in adults Will sometimes give rise to an outbreak
Of diphtheria In children therefore, in all cases
of sore throat, prudence would dictate caution In
using dishes which others are to use. A kiss to q
child under these circumstances may be the un-
rant.
gum, jewsharps, harmoncas and other things
which go from mouth to mouth.
Be sure that the drinking water and the milk are
pure.
RESTRICTION.
As soon as it is found that person has dipbthe-
ria he should Immediately be separated from the
rest OF the family and put into a sunny and well
ventilated roOm preferably on the upper floor
and as disconnected as possible from other rooms
especially the living and sleeping rooms Of chill
dren.
Before moving the patient into the room, all
needless articles, such as carpets, contents or
wardrobes, ETC., which would catch the infection,
should be removed
No other person besides the nurse or necessary
attendants and the physician should be permitted
in the and thew chauld faE Ea
tions not to carry the infection. Their eommuni-
| cation with the rest of the family should be as
The local board Of health, or health oficer,
| should be Immediately notified and should coop
crate with the physician TO keep the disease from
| spreading Children and parents from other
houses should be warned; and, If they needlessly
and obstinately persist in coming, they should be
| Neither the nurse nor any other person should
Gator drink anything in the sick room, or anything
which 4. has been there, Food which the patient
Cats and dogs should be kept from the sick
chamber or better out of the house, for their fur
| can easily carry the infection. These animals, as
| well as some others, sometimes have dphtheria,
| and communicate it to children.
| The dishes which the patient uses should not
| be used or washed with other dishes. They
should be washed by themselves in boiling hot
| water The utmost care must be taken that the
discharges from the mouth, throat and nose do
| not soil the room or its furnishings. These dis
charges should be received on pieces OF cloth and
| then burned. If this cannot be done they should
| No. 6, or No. 2.
The discharges from the kidneys and bowels
| should be literally treated with disinfectant No.
| D. NO. =, or No. 2, and not poured into the prlvy
vault, but buried If possible 200 feet OF more
| from dwelling houses and water supply
The bed and body clothing should not be mixed
with the family wash, but should be put into boil
ing not dlslnteetant solution No. or No. 8;
NO person from house where there is diphthe-
ria should go into public assemblies, such as
schools, churches or concerts.
Persons who have had diphtheria should not
| mlnplp fnFc col,aaf ffraa afta he
last trace OF the disease has left the throat and
nose, and then not until they and all their cloth
| ing have been thoroughly washed and disinfected
In case of death the body should be enclosed in
sheet thoroughly. wet in disnfectant No. A OF
o anu Pqt INTO tlght coffin, which should not az
" private and in no case should children be per
mitted to be present;
After recovery or death, disinfect the room with
| disinfectant No. l.
DIsINFECTANTs.
| No. L. sulphur FumigatiOn-TO use this effect
| lively, two pounds of sulphur should be burned In
room as 1en ieet square Every opening into the
must be closed, except the door by which the dis
injector IS TO escape. The sulphur is to be burned
IN an IRON Kettle or other vessel set in tub con
tanning little water TO guard against fire. A lit
Tie alcohol or kerosene must be poured upon the
sulphur. by which il may be ignited Leave the
room quickly, for the fumes are highly poisonous
when breathed, and close the door tightly Lei
the room remain closed twenty-four hours o.
more. Then air thoroughly for several days.
No. 2. For the Discharges es-Sulphate of iror
Aeopperas), pounds; warm water, gallon; mix
ms leaves rust-spots on clothing.
| No. 3. For Privies. Cess-poOls, ete-Sulphatt
OF IRON, ~ pounds water gallon; mix.
No. A. For Clothing-Sulphate Of zinc whit,
yitri0D, ounces; common salt ounces; water
/ gallon mix.
No. .. Corrosive Sublimate Solution-C Corrosive
Sublimate, 60 grains permanganate Of potassa,
| grain; water, 1 gallon; mix.
| Corrosive submate is one Of the surest destroy
ers OF disease germs known, but its dangerousl!
poisonous qualities make il unsafe for public use
| IL could be used instead OF No. q or one-half th
| strength instead Of Nos and l.
No. 6. Chloride Of lime solutiOn-Chloride O
lime of the best quality, ounces; soft water
gallon mix. This is one Of the best and cheap
| est disinfectants.
No. boiling for half an hour is the surest wa,
| To destroy Infection. Immersion in NJ, -. ~