Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-18


IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DISEASE,
No time should be lost, but general
vaccination insisted upon. Fortunately it
is our great privilege to live in California,
the Inhabitants of which are too intelli-
gent and well informed not to see the i'm
| portance of this measure when smallpox
| invades their town or city. Smallpox in
community means the paralyzing of all
trade and commerce. 1t means pecuniary
loss, sickness, suffering, restitution, de-
formity or death. 1t means condition of
things that in civilized community could
and should be at once arrested. All en-
! ployers must take the initiative, and have
every man in their employ vaccinated, as
the condition upon which their employ
ment is continued. All railroad men,
public offices, should especially be pro-
tected, as they are constantly exposed,
through the travelling public, to the germs
of the disease, which may he lurking in
the wayfarers' clothes or among their bag
gage. In short, it is the imperative duty
of the local authorities to secure protec-
ton to all classes, that none remain I'M
protected, to the imminent danger of their
fellow-citizens.
SMALLPOX IN THE HOUSE
When, unfortunately, this occurrence
has taken place, at once notify the Health
Officer or the health authorities, then have
every member of the family vaccinated at
once. Smallpox, as said before. takes ten
to fourteen days after exposure before it
becomes apparent. Vaccine takes only
four to six days. If, therefore, you are
Immediately vaccinated after exposure you
will anticipate the disease, and either avert
it or so modify it as to render it compare
lively harmless and mild.
The patient should be placed, if practi-
cable, in the highest room in the house,
and as distant from the apartments of the
rest of the family as possible. Here he
should have the most complete isolation
and ventilation that can be obtained.
The room, before occupancy, should be
stripped of all unnecessary furniture
carpets, curtains, wooden goods and cloth
ing, and the utmost cleanliness observed.
both with regard to the patient and the
ROOM Disinfectants may be constantly
ussd especially should vessel containing
chloride of lime be placed at the bedside
for patients to spit into. The same should
be used freely in the vessels required for
the reception of excreta, which should be
at once removed and buried. Lastly, a
large tub containing a disinfectant solution
should be kept in the room. into which all
soiled clothes could at once be plunged,
and removed for further disinfection. Rags
should be used to wipe away all secretions
from the mouth or nose, and Immediately
burned. All glasses, cups, or vessels used
by the patient must be scrupulously
cleansed and washed in a disinfectant solu-
ton. No person should be admitted into
the room but those waiting upon the pa
tient, and sheet wrung out of strong
disinfectant solution ought to be suspended
outside the door of the patients ROOM
Smallpox is in its most contagious con-
dition when the scabs are matured, and no
convalescent patient should be permitted
to mingle with his family until all the
scabs have fallen off and the skin quite
clean.
In case of death, wrap the body in a
sheet saturated with a strong solution of
sulphate of zinc, and have it coffined and
buried without any unnecessary delay,
without any wake or public funeral
DlSINFECTANT SOLUTIONS.
As these solutions are within the means
of every one, the State Board of Health
thinks it well to familiarize the public
with their composition:
Roll sulphur (brimstone), tor flmiga-
ton. This is a cheap and efficient sub
stance for ft1migating rooms; it is posi-
lively destructive to disease germs when
efficiently used
Sulphate of iron (copperas) dissolved in
the proportion of one and half pounds to
the gallon of water, is a cheap and reliable
deodorizer and antiseptic for privies, cess
pools, sewers, etc.
Sulphate of zinc, in the proportion of
four ounces of sulphate and two ounces of
common salt to the gallon of water, is
efficient and harmless for clothing, bed
linen, blankets etc. 1t should be used
boiling hot, and the articles to be disin-
fected plunged into it and thoroughly
boiled.
Corrosive sublimate, in the proportion
of a quarter of an ounce to the gallon, is
an unsurpassed germicide and disinfectant.
but has the disadvantage of being excess
sively poisonous, and therefore dangerous
for general use.
Carbolic acid is of uncertain strength, is
expensive, and experience has shown that
it must be employed in comparatively
large quantities to be of any use 1t is
also liable, by its strong odor, to give
false sense of security.
HOW TO USE DIsINFECTANTs.
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