Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-04-15
EPIDEMIC DISEASES.
Precautions to Be Adopted to
Prevent Their Spread


/
An important memorandum on the pro-
ceedngs which are advisable in places at
tackled or threatened with epidemic disease,
which has been drawn up by DR.. George
Buchanan, F. r. S., has been issued to san-
tary authorities by the Local Government
Board. In this memorandum, says the
| London Times, it is stated that whenever
! there is prevalence or threatening OF chol-
| era, dIphtheria, fever or any other epidemic
| disease, it Is of more than common impor-
! t;nce that the statutory powers conferred
! upon sanitary authorities for the protection
| OF the public health should be well exer-
cised by those authorities acting with the
| advice of their medical officers of health.
Proper precautions are equally requisite
| for all classes of society. But 1t is chiefly
with regard to the poorer population, there
| fore chiefly in the courts and alleys of
towns, and at the laborers' cottages of
country districts, that local authorities are
called upon to exercise vigilance and to
pr0ffer information and advice. Common
1 lodging houses and houses which are sub
let in several small holdings always require
particular attention.
Wherever there is accumulation, stink or
sodlage Of house refuse or of other decay
ing animal or vegetable matter, the nui-
sance should as promptly as possible be
abated, and precauuon should be taken moi
to let it recur. Especially examination
should be made as to the efficient wo rknC
OF sewers and drains, and any defect there
in and any nuisance therefrom or from any
foul bitches or ponds should be got rid OF
without delay. The ventilation of sewers,
the ventilation and trapping of house drains
and the discOnnection of cistern OverfiowS
and sink pipes from drains should be care
20 4
and the state Of recoptacles for excrement
and of dust-bius Will require close attention.
In slaughter-houses, and wherever animals
are Kept, strict cleanliness should be en-
J forced
In the removal of filth during periods of
epidemic disease it is commonly necessary
to employ chemical agents for reducing or
removing the offense and harm which may
be involved in the disturbance of the filth
In the removal of privy contents these
agents are more particularly wanted if the
disease in question be cholera or enteric
fever. The chemical agent should be used
literally over all exposed surfaces from
which filth has been removed Unpayed
earth close to dwellings, if it be sodden with
slops or filth, ought to be treated in the
same way.
Sources of water supply should be we'll
examined. Water from sources which can
be IN any way tainted by animal or vegeta-
BILE refuse, especially those in TO which there
may be any leakage or filtration from sew
ers, drains, cesspools, or foul bitches ought
no longer to be drunk. Above all, where
the disease is cholera, diarrhea or enteric
leVer 1t is essential tb at no impure water
be drunk.
The liability of leaky pipes to act as land
drains and TO receive oul matters as well
nrainnUn Icrbf bai fa
to be overlooked. Arid such leaky pipes,
running full of water with considerable We
locity, are liable to receive, by lateral in
suction at their points of leakage, external
matters that may be dangerous. This lat
Ter TACT is not recOgni zed so generally as it
should be, and ignorM ice of it has probably
Daiiied many inquiries, in cases where water
services have in truth been the means OF
spreadin g disease.
II, un fortunately, the only water which |
Tor time can be got should be open to sus- |
plclon of dangerous organic impurlty, it |
ough at least to be boiled before it is used |
Tor drinking but then not to be drank later
tina n twenty-four hours after it has been
DO led, Fltering of the ordinary kind can
not by itself be trusted to purify water. Ii
an not be too d stinctly 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 dairies, the
purity Of the water used in them, the health
of the persons EN- ployed about them, and
the health of the cows that furnish milk
should always be carefully investigated.
Even apart from any apprehension of milk
being concerned in particular outbreak of
disease, il is desirable that English people
should adopt the cl lstom, which is always
followed in some continental countries, of
boiling all milk at once upon its reception
into house.
The washing and lime-whiting of unclean-
ly premises, especial ly of such as are densely
occupied, should be pressed with all practi-
cable dispatch,
Overcrowding should be preven ted Es-
pecially whore disease has begun, the sick
room should, as far as possible lle free
from persons who are not Of use TO the pa
tent,
Ample ventilation should be inforced. Il
should be seen that the windows are made +,
To open, and that they are sufficiently
opened. Especially where any kind of in. /.
fecive fcver has begun, il is essential I
both for patients and for persons who are I
about them, that the sick room and the sick =
house be constantly trayersed by streams
OF fresh air
The cleanlest domestic habits should be ]
eniolnod. Refuse matters should be speed.
ily removed or destroyed; and things which
have TO be disinfected or cleaused should
always be disinfected or cleansed without I
delay.
Special precautions Of cleanliness end 3ia.
iAioeuon are necessary with regard 10 "a.