The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-10-29

The discovery that many Of the most
fatal diseases are due to the existence
of a specific living germ or microscope
and that this germ is the Legitimate
product of such animal and vegetable
substances as are commonly left to the
slow process of decomposition and de-
cay in cess pools, sink drains and water
closets, is Of the most vital Importance
to the whole people. Many of the
most fatal maladies which few years
ago We're thought by many to be spc-
cial visitatiOns of Providence and which
often spread terror and dismay through
whole neighborhoods, are now known
to be only the legitimate products of
easily prcventible causes and only re-
quires knowledge of sanitary regula-
tiOns to enable them to secure almost
entire immunity from the most dread
ed maladies. 1t may be safely assert.
ed that in every case of typhoid or 9TH
er febrile disease, the cause may be dis
covered and removed and the spread of
the disease prevented by the careful
physician. He should personally in
spect every spot around the buildings
where the germs of disease could posi-
bly, terminate and take prompt and eff
fective measures to insure their de-
struction, either by the use of drugs or
by burying or burning. All the excre-
tions of person suffering from ty-
phOid fever, scarlet fever, measles or
small pOx, should be at once carefully
burned and the vessels in use should be
thoroughly disinfected with Bromo
Chloralum, Chloride of lime, Carbolic
acid or some other equally powerful
germieide. 1t is the duty of family
physician to prevent as well as cure,
families composing his clientele the
sink drains are properly trapped to
prevent the foul gases from escaping
into the house, and that all cess pools
and water closets are properly con-
structed and kept. Also that the wat
er supply does not become infected by
the infiltration of disease germs from
outside sources. During an epidemic
of typhoid fever some years since in
which the cause for considerable
time remained obscure, it was at last
discovered in faulty sink drain, the
disease germs filtering through several
feet of soil into the well, which was
covered with stone and turfed over.
The prompt removal of the cause at
once put period to the progress of
the disease which had previously baf-
fled all treatment and from which five
persons in one family had died. This
may seem to some like "killing the
goose that lays the golden eggs, but
this is not a matter of dollars and cents
but of health and life, and no true ply.
stefan will allow any known cause of
disease to exist which may be within
his power to remove and any member
of the profession who would not exert
his utmost influence toward the remov-
al of all known sources of disease in
the community, is totally unworthy of
public confidence and support. He
should also so instruct his patrons as to
enable them to act promptly and intel
ligently in case of sudden accident or
sickness and thus enable them to per-
haps save a valuable life. Also when
dealing out medicine to be administer
ed by attendants or nurses, he should
in the plainest possible manner so i'll
struct them in regard to the expected
results and the possible changes that
may take place in the condition of the
patient as to enable them to act prompt
ly and intelligently in case the results
are not satisfactory. The success of a
physician is nearly if not quite as
much due to the care and intelligence
of the nurses and attendants as to the
potency of the drugs he may exhibit
and the physician who does not fully
appreciate this fact is sadly deficient in
one of the most important elements of
his success. In future paper will
endeavor to give some of the many
methods in common use, by which dis
ease may be prevented and the best
and most economical methods of con-
structing drains and cess pools and of
insuring proper ventilation and secur-
ing an abundance of pure air and water
A. RANDALL STOKES M. d.