Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-03-15
DIPHTHERTA.

1t behooves everybody, especially pa
rents, to look well to their own as we'll
as to their children health at this seas
on of the year. The first and principal
rule to be observed, especially during
wet weather, is to keep the feet dry and
warm. The nature of the disease is
primarily OF secondarily a constitution
al, or blood poisoning disease. 1t at
tacks persons of all classes and ages. but
most frequently children under sixteen
| years OF age.
In ordinary cases the poisonous prin-
ciple of diphtheria probably enters the
blood by way of the mouth and the air
passages.
| The period of incubation of diphthe-
ria, or the time from person exposure
to the disease to his coming down with
| it, varies somewhat-being usually from
a few hours to seven or eight days; in
some cases, it is II or Il days.
Its most frequent local manifestations
are in the mouth, throat, and air pass
ages. When in the mouth, or upper
part of the throat only, the disease is,
as a rule, less dangerous and fatal, but
none less contagious, than when in the
air passages, below the fauces.
The specific contagion developed by
the disease itself, and by which it
spreads, is diffused by the exhalations
| (breath, perspiration, etc. }, of the pa
tient, through the air Immediately sur
rounding him. 1t may be conveyed by
anything that has come in contact with
an infected person; also by food, cloth
ing, sheets, blankets, furniture, toys,
books, wall paper, curtains, hair, whis-
kers, cats, dogs and kissing.
Rules and Regulations.
All persons known to be sick with the
disease must be promptly and thorough
ly isolated.
The room in which one sick with this
disease is placed, must have no carpet,
or only pieces, or rags; must previously
be cleared of all needless clothing, dra-
perry, and other material likely to har-
Dor the poison of the disease. Provi-
sion must be made for the introduction
of a liberal supply of fresh air, without
sensible currents or drafts
Body and bed clothing, etc-It is
best to burn all articles which have been
in contact with the persons sick with
contagious or infectious diseases
Preventive Measures.
Avoid the special contagion of the
disease.
Beware of crowded assemblies in i'll
ventilated rooms.
Filth is one of the chief predisposing
causes of diphtheria.
The grounds under and around the
house should be well drained.
No vegetable or animal matter should
be allowed to decompose ON the surface
of the ground near the house.
If any soap factory, slaughter house,
rendering establishment, OF other source
of foul odors, contaminate the air which
you and your children daily breathe,
take immediate measures through your
local board of health or health officer,
to have such nuisance abated
Your own privy especially, should at
all times be thoroughly disinfected, by
dry earth. coal ashes, or copperas water,
so as to prevent the air about it from be-
coming offensive.
Your whole house, and especially its
sleeping rooms, should be well ventilat-
ed.
Your cellar should be dry and well
ventilated; it should frequently be white
washed, and always kept clear of de-
composed vegetable or other substan.
ces.
No cesspool should be allowed neal
the house. If there be one it should
either be removed or be thoroughly and
frequently disinfected with sulphate OF
iron (copperas).
Be sure that your drinking water is
not contaminated by surface drainage
nor by leakage from the drains, gas
pipes, sewer cesspool, privy vault OF
stables. Messenger