Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-11-18

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Is advised that there are cases exist
ing In some of the towns and villages
of the State. and it is believed that
unless stringent measures are adopted
at once to restrict the spread of the
disease, We will suffer as severely as
communities in other States have suf-
fered from it. The following facts in
connection with the disease have been
furnished the Sun by DR.. C. W. Chan
cellor, Secretary to the State board of
health, which, if intelligently con-
sidered by the health authorities,
physicians and citizens, may serve to
prevent an outbreak Of the disease. or
check its spread where it already ex-
lists.
l. Fact in Connection with Dipth-
therla.-The real nature of dipththe-
ria Is undetermined, and physicians
thus far have been unable to agree
upon any settled plan of treatment.
Where hygienic conditions are bad
the disease will spread from a single
case and become endemic (contied to
a circumscribed locality or epidemic
prevailing generally in commune
ty.) The malady differs in intensity
from the mildest form, which resem-
bles simple sore throat, to the worst
type of blood-poisoning, which is in
tractable from the beginning.
2. How the Disease is Communica-
ted.-Diphtheria is communicable in
all it's forms, either by contagion or
through the medium of an infected at
mospLere, and when it has once bro
ken out in a house it is liable to
spread through the air Of apartments,
especially in overcrowded and badly
ventilated habitations. Children are
much more liable to the disease than
adults, and are more subject to its yio-
lent forms. Adults may have it so
lightly as not to be aware of its exis-
tence, and thus they may disseminate
it ignorsntly among children. All
diphtheria patients and persons in
contact with them should be consid-
cred dangerous, and should not asso-
ciate with others until it is decided
by careful and intelligent physician
that they can do so without endanger-
ing others. This applies especially TO
children attending public schools,
churches, or assemblies Of any kind.
8. Active Measures of Prevention.
These consist, o. in avoiding the
special contagion; ~ in avoiding all
crowded assemblies in illy-ventilated
rooms during the prevalence of the
disease; 60 in maintaining thorough
cleanliness of person and premises;
a. in the speedy removal OF all veg
etable and animal refuse matters: %. }
in keeping cellars clean and dry; 60
IN free and thorough ventilation OF
dwellings, especially sleeping apart
ments; o. in boiling and fi!tering
drinking water when there is any sus-
pi2lon as to its purity: 81 in the free
use of disinfectants in all places where
foul odors may possibly arise.
/. Restrictive Measures. The re-
strlctlve measures recommended are
/ llD prompt isolation OF tn sick from
the well; o. restriction Of nurses in
their intercourse with outside persons.
81 keeping the sick-loom clear of all
needless clothing, carpets, drapery,
&c., likely TO harbor the POISON OF the
disease; a. liberal supply of fresh
air IN the sick-room, taking care to
avoid direct drafts, 81 burning or
thoroughly dlsinfecting and burying,
remote from the house aud source OF
drinking water, ali discharges from
the throat, nose, mouth, kidneys and
bowels; CO. placing soliei bed and
body linen in boiling water at once.
or IN water containing little chic
ride OF lime. soda or zine. a. dI,lu-
tectIng the room in which any case or
cases of d;pththeria have occurred,
with all the contents, by exposure for
several hours TO strong fumes OF chic
ride of gas or burning sulphur, and
subsequently to currents OF fresh air;
(o.l no public funeral should be held
IN house in which death from
dlPtherIa has recently occurred. nor
IN church or other place where the
body Of diphtherla patient lies dead;
(s.) the bodies of those who have died
OF diphtheria should be securely wrap
ped In dlslnfected cerecloth-a sheet
saturated in solution of chloride Of
zinc, half pound of the salt to a gal
lon of water.
.. Prophylsctic Measures.-The
best prophylatic measures are lN
wash the mouth and garg'e the throat