Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-10-10
EPIDEMIC DISEASES.
Precautions to Be Adopted to
Prevent Thor Spread.


Prevent THOR Spread.
An important memorandum on the pro-
cecdings which are advisable in places at
tackled or threatened with epidemic disease
which has been drawn up by DR.. George
Buchanan, r r. s., has been issued 20 sani-
tary authorities by the Local Government
Board. In this memorandum, says the
London Times IL Is stated that whenever
there IL prevalence or threatening OF chOl-
era, diphthcria, fever or any other epidemic
disease, II ~ Of more than common impor-
lance that the statutory powers conferred
upon sanitary authorities for the protection
of the public health should be well exer-
ciscd by those authorities acting with tho
advice Of their medical officers Of health.
Proper precautions are equally requisite
for all classes Of society. But II is chiefly
with regard 10 the poorer population, there
fore chiefly In the courts and alleys OF
towns, and at the laborers' cottages OF
country districts, that local authorities arc
called upon 90 exercise vigilance and 10
proifer information and advice. Common
lodging houses and houses which are sub
let In several small holdings always require
particular attention.
Wherever there h accumulation, stink or
soakagc Of house refuse or Of other decay
ing animal or vegetable matter. the nui-
sanco should as promptly as possible DO
abated, and prccaution should DO taken not
20 let u rcCur Especially examination
should be made IA to the efficient working
OF sewers and drains. and any defect there
In and any nuisance thcrtfrom or from any
foulslitchos or ponds should be got rid OF
without delay. Tho ventilation OF sewers,
the ventilation aud trapping OF house drains
. a.
and sink pipes from drains should be care
fully seen 10. Tbs scavengingof the district
and the state OF roceptaclos for excrement
and Of dustbins viii require close attention
In slaughtcr-houscs, and wherever animals
are kept, strict cleanliness should DO en-
forced.
In the removal Of filth during periods OF
epidemic disease Il is commonly necessary
20 employ chemical agents for reducing or
removing the ofonse and harm which may
be involved In the disturbance Of tho filth.
In the removal Of privy contents these
agents are more particularly wanted II the
disease i'm question be cholera or enteric
fever The chemical agent should be used
literally over all exposed surfaces from
which filth has been removed. Unpavcd
earth close 10 dwellings, II IL be soddcu with
slops or filth, ought 10 be treated in the
same way
Sources Of watcr supply should be well
examined. Water from sources which can
be In any way tainted by animal or vegeta-
bic refuse, especially those into which there
may be any leakage or filtration from sew
crs, drains, cosspOOls, or foul bitches ought
no longer 20 be- drunk. Above ALL where
che disease h cholera, diarrhca, or cnteric
fever, II h essential that no impure water
be drunk
The liability Of lcal,y pipes 10 act as land
drains and % receive foul matters as well
M land drainage through their leaks is not
90 be overlooked And such lcalsy pipes,
running fun Of water with considerable We
locity, are liable 20 receive, by lateral in
suction at their points Of leakage, external
matters that may DO dangerous. This lat
ter fact Is not recognized so generally as IL
should be, and Ignorance Of II has probably
bafiled many inquiries in cases where water
services have in truth been the means Of
spreading disease.
m, unfortunately, the only water which
for time can be- got should be open 10 sus-
picion OF dangerous organic impurity, IL
ought at least 90 be boiled before II IL used
for drinking, but then not 20 be drank later
than twenty-four hours after Il has been
boiled. Filicring ~ the ordinary kind can
not by itself be trusted 10 purify water. II
can not bo too distinctly understood that
dangerous qualities OF water are not obVi-
ated by the addition Of wine or spirits.
When there appears any probable relation
between the distribution of disease and milk
supplies, the cleanliness Of diaries, the
purity Of the water used In them, the health
of tho persons employed about them, and
tho health OF tho cows that furnish milk
should always DO carefully investigated
Even apart from any apprehension Of milk
being concerned In n particular outbreak of
disease, Il il desirable that English people
should adopt the custom, which Ia always
followed In some continental countries, Of
boiling all milk at once upon its reception
into house.
The washing and lime-whiting Of unclcan-
ly promises, especially OF such as arc dcnscly
occupied, should be pressed with all practi-
cable dispatch.
Overcrowding should be prevented. Es-
pccally where disease has begun, the sick
room should, as far as possible, be free
from persons who are not of use TO the pa
tent
Ample ventilation should be inforced II
should be seen that the windows are made
10 omen, and that they are sufficiently
opened. Especially whore any kind Of in
fective foyer has begun, II is essential,
both for patients and for persons who are
about them, that the sick room and the sick
house be constantly traversed by streams
Of fresh air.
The cleanliest domestic habits should be
.ngoined. Refuse matters should DO speed
ilv removed or destroyed; and things which
have 70 be disinfectcd or cleanscd should
always be disinfcctcd or cleansed without
delay.
special precautions OF cleanliness and dis
infection are necessary with regard TO In
fcctivc matter discharged from tho bodies
Of the sick. Among discharges which Il Is
proper 10 treat az infectlve are those which
Come In cases OF smallpox and scarlatina
from the affected skin; In cases Of cholera
and cntcric fever iron the Intestinal canal
an cases ofdphtheria and ssarlatina from
che nose and throat; likewise, In cases of
any cruptivo or other epidemic fever. the
general exhalations Of the sick. The caution
which II necessary with regard TO such
matters must, OF course, extend 70 whatever
a. imhucd with them; 80 that bedding. cloth
ing, towels, handkerchiefs, and other arti-
clcs which have been In use by tho sick
may not become sources Of mischief, either
In tho house 20 which they belong or In the
house 10 which they are conveyed SO tar
NJ articles OF this class can be replaced
by rags or things OF small vnluc, Il Is best
20 use such things and burn them when
they are soied Otherwise clothing and in
fectod articles should be subjected to tho
disinfcctant Of the sick room, or be removed
FOR disinfcction by heat
In onteric fever and cholera the evacu-
alton should be regarded ~ capable OF COM
municating an infectious quality 10 any
nightsoil with which they arc mingled In
privies, drains, or ccsspools; and after
such disinfection Of tho mass Is nraobcable.