The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-11-20

RESTRICTION OF DipnI nSfl1.
While diphtheria has not yet become
epidemic III any city Or town OF Mary
land. the State DO IrG of health is advised
that there are cases existing i'll some of
the towns aud villages of the State, and
it is believed that unless stringent meas
ures are adopted at once to restrict the
spread of the disease, we will suffer as
severely as communities in other States
have suffered from it. The following facts
in connection with the disease have been
furnished by DIR. G w. Chancellor, secre
tary of the State board of health, which,
if intellisently considered by health au-
thorities, ply sicians and citizens, may
serve to prevent al out ore ok Of the dis
ease or check its spread where it already
exists.
|. Fact IN Connection tcih DiphMeria.
The zeal nature of diphtherla is unde-
termined, aud ply sicians thus far have
beer unable to agree upon any settled
plan of treatment. Where hvgienic con-
dltions are bad the disease Will spread
from single case and become endemic
CONFINED to a clrcumscribed locality or
epidemic prevailing generally in com
munity.G The malady differs in inten-
sity from the midest form. which resem-
bles a simple sore throat, to the worst
type OF bluod-poison.ng, which is intract-
able from the beginning.
=. UOC tie Ctse0se Is Communicated.
-Diphtnerla is communicable III all Its
forms, either by contaglon or through the
medium of au Infected atmosphere, and
when IL has once broken out in a hons,
it is liable to spread through the air OF
apartments, especially in overcrowde.i
aud badly ventilated habitations. Chill
dreL are much more liable to the disease
than adults, and are more subject to its
violent forms. Adults may have it So
lightly as not to be aware of its existence
and thus they NAV disseminate it irnor-
antly among children. All diphtheria pa
tients and persons i'll contact with them
should be considered dangerous, and
should not associate with others until it
Is decided by a careful and Intelligent
physician that they can do SO without
endangering others. This applies espe
cially to children attending public
schools, churches, or assemblies of any
kind.
3. -4etiSs Measures Of Prevention. These
consist, Il, IN avoiding the special con
tagIou; G in avoiding all crowded as
semblies illy-ventilated rooms during the
prevalence of the disease; (3,) in main
tanning thorough cleanliness OF person and
premises;(4,) i'll the speedy removal Of all
vegetable and animal refuse matters: o.
i'll keeping cellars clean and dry; 60 III
free aud thorough ventilation of dwell
lngS, especially sleeping apartments; a.
Ill boiling and tlterIng drinking water
when there Is any suspicion as to its pur
IJy, Is. il the free use of disiufectants
i'll all places where fual odors may posi-
bly, arise.
Restrictive Hutcrs.-Ths restrictive
measures recommend are: a. prompt
isolation of the sick from the well; c. }
restriction of nurses in their intercourse
With outside persons; g keeping the
sick-room clear OF all needless clothing.
carpets, drapery, Nc, likely to harbor
the poison OF the disease; g. a liberal
supply OF fresh air in TIL. slcK-room tax
lug care to avoid direct drafts: 6 burn
ing or TN roughly dlsluteclng and bury
ing, remote I, ON the house aud source
OF drinking water, all discharges from
tue throat, nose, mouth, kidneys and
bowels; q } placing soled bed and body
linen i'll boiling water at once, or in
water containing a little chloride of lime,
soda OF zinc; G } disintecting the room
III which any case or cases of diphtheria
have occurred, with all the contents. by
exp ,sure for several hours to strong
fumes of chlorine gas or burning sulphur,
and subsequently to currents OF fresh
air; 6 } no public funeral should be held
in a house III which IA death from diph-
liberia has recently occurred nor IN "a
church OF Other place " here the body of
a diphtheria ,tient lies dead; CO } the
bodies of those who have died of diph
liberia should be securely wrapped in a
dlslntected cereclOth-l sheet saturated
in solution of chloride of zinc, half
pound OF the salt to gallon OF water.
D. P0phyl"ctic Measures The best
proph ylactlc measures are: q } wash the
mouth ana gargle the throat morning and
night III weak solution Of Labarraque's
solution of chIorlnated soda, two tea,
spooniuls to an ordinary glass of water;
G. steam we'll the room in which the
disease exists aud the hallway leading to
it with tue vapor of boiling water, to
winch spirits of turpeuLlne has been ad
ded in the proportion ct one pint OF the
latter to tive plnts of water.
Is. LegW .SdftguardS. In addition to
the above, the Statutes of Maryland CON
tanning regulations which should be en-
forced. Among them is the act passed
by the General Assembly at the January
session OF 1882, chapter l55, entitled IA
act to provide against the spread of IN
fictitious diseases which confers abun-
dant power upon health officers justices
of the peace and municipal and county
authorities to restrict or suppress the in
trad and SpraaI of inE,