Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-27
DIPHTHER "a Its PREVENTION.
Several Fatal Cases of the Disease---Actio
of the Board of Health.
Madison Democrat.

In his last report DR.. Bodenlus gave the
following information which is especially
valuable at this time:
Dipthera is NAL ignant, contagious disease,
and like scarlet fever is frequently followed by
physical defects, such as blindness deafness and
paralysis
Whenever child or young person has sore
throat, with bad odor to the breath, especially
if it has fever, it should Immediately be separated
from all other persons, excepting necessary at
PENDANTS, until it is ascertained by physician
that it has not diphtheria or other communicable
disease Mild may communicate malig-
nant and fatal forms of the disease.
Dlphthera may be conveyed by personal con-
TACT clothing, hair, paper, the discharges of the
body, Or anything which has touched the sick
person. The diph IBERIA poison has great vitality,
and may lie dormant for weeks, and even months.
1t seems to be able to travel in the air of sewers
from house to house; also to rise in the emana-
tions from putrid privies and cesspools. 1t can
also. undoubtedly, infect foods, milk aud water,
and with them enter the bodies of children.
The time required to develop diphtheria may be-
from two to Tx days, but the time may be extend
ed to five or six weeks.
The greatest number of deaths from the disease
occur in children under twelve years OF age.
Adults usually have 1t in milder form than do
children. Children under two years and half
old are not very liable to the disease One attack
usually prevents any subsequent one, but this Is
not always SO. If parents everywhere could be
brought to act intelligently, these diseases mlgnt
become almost unknown.
Close attention should be paid to the sources OF
the water and food supplies Ii there Is any
doubt about the purity of the water, boil II thor-
oughly before using 1t. Foods and mix shouId
not be used which come from house III which
there is diphthera. Filth may be considered
promoter of diphheria. Perfect cleanliness
should be enjoined in the house and all us sur
roundings. All foul odors must be destroyed IN
outhouses and cesspools by the appropriate dlsin.
fectants Let the house all the pure air and sun
light possible.
For sulphur fumigation open wide all the draw
ers an6 closet doors, hang On lines all WOODEN ar
cles, and burn two pounds OF sulphur Tor every
thousand cubic feet in the room. Every opening
and crevice in the room must be tightly closed,
and the sulphur burned in an iron vessel SET In d
tub containing little water to guard against hfe.
Pour little alcohol or kerosene upon the sulphur
to ignite it, Leave the room quickly, and close
the door tightly for twenty-four hours or MORE
Then air thoroughly for several days.
standard disinfectng solution is made by dis
solving four ounces of chloride of lime in gallon
of soft water.
Other good disinfectants are:
Corrosive sublimate of permanganate OF potash
in soft water two drachms of each salt to gal
lon. This solution is highly poisonous 1t re-
auires contact of one hour to be efficient
To one part of La5arrrque's solution OF hypo-
chlorate of soda add five parts of soft water.
Four ounces corrosive sublimate to gallon
of water One fluid ounce of this solution in a
gallon of water is sufficiently strong. Articles
should be left in it for two hours