Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-10
ANTISEPTIC SPLITTING.
A Habit Which DR.. j. A. Jackson Emphat-
icalIy Disapproves Of

Now that the dangers of promiscuous
kissing are well known and the custom is
fortunately going out of fashion, at
tention should be drawn to the PERM
cious habit of indiscriminate election
from the mouth, nose, throat, bronchial
tubes and lungs when diseased, by the
act of splitting. Let us accept the truth
of the germ theory at once in the belief
that such diseases as diphtheria catarrh,
scrofula and consumption are communi-
cable by diffusion of the contagious and
Infectious principles residing in the dis
charges from the affected body Could
we xii |, all the germs in the world, the end
of many diseases would quickly follow.
This we cannot do, but we can restrain
their growth, lessen their activity, kill
them off by millions, guard our bodies
against their invasion and increase our
resisting powers to their efforts. They
are not invincible and rapidly surrender to
simple means quite effective when I'M
derstood and faithfully applied. Chief
of all is the destruction by burn
ing or disinfection of all vitiated discharg-
es especially the sputum. This should not
be swallowed but expectorated in such
manner as to be no longer dangerous to
the individual or the public. Plead earn
estly but insist if need be, that afflicted
4o oil Of al
cotton cloth that cost nothing, can be car
ried take a handkerchief, andsthen con-
signed while yet moist to the
fire. Or else that they carry
while travelling, a portable sanitary
cuspidor,'' these as well as stationary ones
now being manufactured on this principle
All spittoons, cuspidors and other similar
receptacles, at the home, and in public
places, are to be kept clean, moist and dis
infected by germicides, and the contents
destroyed, preferably by fire, and certainly
not disposed of so as to give off any effiu-
via, nor thrown out at the back door or on
the manure or rubbish pile to be taken up
and swallowed or scattered by the COW or
the chickens.
Absolute destruction and cleanliness are
the watchwords. Away with all dirty
carpets, plush, velvet and fuzzy sur
roundings, and let smooth material be
substituted that can stand ventilation,
sunshine. soap and water and disinfec-
ton, but which will not harbor the dead |
ly bacteria to rise in the dried dust |
after every football, brush of the broom
or watt of air. At least in the homes of |
the sick and in all places where the
public gather for amusement, for travel |
ing, for business or for living pur-
poses. Deal the deathblow to the enemy
by destroying him. This is no "Wili-o- |
the-wisp' or arabian Nights story"
but statement of facts defying criticism. !
Only think what large number of the |
fair, the young and the vigorous yearly |
fall victims to such miserable, yet pre-
ventable disease as consumption Re-
member that equally large contingent who
lose the brightness, the hope and joy of
blessed childhood and youth through
scrufulous affections of bones and joints
These dreadful scourges are all due to the
entrance into the body of parasite the
''bacillies tuberculosis Thanks to some
of our cells called ''phagocytes" many of
US are able to kill the foe, during per-
feet health, but let part become
'congested'' through a ''cold on the
lungs Or by blow or twist of
bone or a joint and then the stagnated
blood, the Increased heat and devitalized
tissues supply favorable field for the
deadly work of the germs which are al
ways awaiting their opportunity.
What a consolation to the offspring of
parentage to know that they
are not necessarily doomed to such fate!
They should understand that they inherit,