The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1889-11-09
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
Precautions to be Used In Cases of Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria.

4 =
Precautions to be Used In Cases of Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria.
Scarlet feveri is communicated bv the
minute particles of skin which flake off
during the convalescing process, and
there is always danger until every par
ticle of this cuticle has been shed.
Whenever scarlet fever is suspected,
isolate the patient and attendant, and
let there be no contact with the other
members of the family until the physi-
clan has pronounced the case fully
cured. Do not let even cat or dog or
bird be in the room. If it be possible
let the attendant perform all the work
of the sick room. Have plentiful
supply of strong solution of carbolic
acid, one part pure carbolic acid and
three parts water.
Keep an atomizer constantly filed
with it. If a carpet be on the floor of
the sick room, let it be sprinkled fire.
quently with the carbolic acid, also the
bed coverings, the dress of the attend
ant, the walls and every article of
furniture. Let no dishes or trays leave
the room until they have been brought
under the carbolic spray. All articles
to be washed should be laid in water
to which the carbolic solution has been
added before they are given to the
laundress. and they should be washed
alone. After attending to the patient
the hands should be washed in carbolic
water, and the clothing OF the pbysi-
clan should be sprinKled before he
leaves the room, the spray from the
atomizer being so fine it will not injure
any fabric or cause any Inconvenience.
When the patient leaves the room
have every thing that can be washed
thoroughly cleaned with the carbolio
solution; then fumigate closets and
wardrobes and the room or rooms with
| roll birthstone.
Every window must be made air.
tight and keyholes stopped with cot
ton. Two pounds of sulphur (rolD
will be sufficient for large room and
q small quantity for a closet or ward
robe. All jewelry and metal ornaments
should be removed before the fun1iga-
tion is begun, as the fumes of sulphur
oxidize metals. Place the sulphur in
a hower-pot saucer, which may be set
upon brick to prevent any danger
from fire. Open all bureau drawers,
all books and boxes, and take the mat
tresses from the bedstead, so the sui
phur fumes may permeate every thing
In the room. Leave the room unopened
for three or four days, and then air
thoroughly. Too great care can not be
exercised in the Immigration. The
germs OF scarlet fever are carried in
books, toys, garments and by animals.
In short, every thing upon which bit
OF scarfskin can rest is a vehicle for
the transmission of the disease.
know of case in which scarlet fever
was communicated by book which
had been in an infected room, and
had not been fumigated. The child
who brought the book home was at
tackled by the fever in severe form.
He underwent an isolation OF six
weeks, during which time the only
communication that the mother, who
was his nurse. had with the rest of the
family was through window, the per-
son who came to converse or receive
orders being first we'll sprinkled with
carbolic acid as we'll as the mother.
None of the other members of the
family contracted the disease. Years
ago, before carholic acid was discov-
cred, and before so great precautions
were taken, a celebrated physician had
his two children i'll with scarlet fever.
The toys with which they played wore
put away unfumigat I'd. Five years
later these toys were taken from the
closet in which they hal remained and
were given to two children who had
come to visit at the house. These chill
dren were attacked with scarlet fever,
although there were no cases in the
physicians practice nor in that of his
colleagues. The cause of the infection
was then suspected, and the toys
promptly burned. This illustrates the
length of time the germ remains viru-
lent. In diphtheria the same rules
are to be observed. 1t is a safeguard to
place carbolic acid in vessels about the
halls through which the attendant has
to pass, thereby greatly lessening the
chances of contagion. Above all things
attend carefully to the directions OF the
physician. Write down all that he or
ders, so that there can be no mistake.
In severe cases, where there is no
trained nurse, keep record of the
changes so that the doctor may know
what has taken place during his alb
sence.-N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.