The record-union., 1891-08-14
CHILDREN'S GREATEST ENEMY.
Most Effective Methods for the Treat
ment of Diphtheria.
Valuable Suggestions Furnished by the
State Board of HeaIth-Parents
Should Study Them.

A pamphlet has been compiled by the
state Board of Health, for general distri-
button, which is brimfull of information
tnat is valuable to all persons, and espec-
lally to parents and others who have the
care of children. Diphtheria is so fre-
Quently malignant and fatal in its effects
that the State Board Of Health, in the ex-
ercise of its functions in the restriction
and prevention of disease, deems it neces-
sary to furnish the public with informa-
ton with reference to the manner of its
propagation, coupled with such sugges-
tions concerning the best known methods
OF limiting its progress, as any person of
average intelligence may easily put to
practical use.
1t should be generally understood that
diphtheria is a contagious and infectious
disease, which attacks by preference the
young, and especially those whose vital
resistance has been reduced by exposure
to filth, uncleanliness, the emanations
from sewers, drains, and all unsanitary
influences.
HOW DIPHTHERIA Is CONTRACTED.
The infectious substance of diphtheria
is conveyed from the mouth, nose, air
passages, and discharges from the bowels
OF those who have the disease. 1t is be-
Heyed, with some reason, that the perspi-
ration and urine may contain it. Domes-
tic animals, such as cats, dogs, chickens
and tame pigeons are credited with car
rying the disease from one person TO
another, either by having the disease
themselves, or because of having
been handled by persons who were af-
dict6d with it. 1t may be transmitted in
water, milk, or other liquids, or in food
TINfl, l.
has sore throat without suspicion that it
is diphtheria.
The secretions of the mouth and nose
oi dlphtherltIc patient, mixed as they
must necessarily be with the exudative
deposit, are often allowed to fall upon the
bedclothes and carpets, where they dry
and remain for an indefinite length of
time. These are liable TO be detached by
the friction Of the fabric, or the shuffiing
OF feet upon the floor, when the poison
rises as dust in fine particles and
lodges in the throat, nose, windpipe, or
stomach of the person who may respire
the air so contaminated.
Some persons have SO much vital re-
sistance to disease that it does not take
root and develop. Others, however, have
the susceptibility to its growth and fatal
effects.
1t should be remembered that a malig-
nant form of the disease may be con-
tracted from person having it in very
mild form.
Exposure to an atmosphere contami-
mated by the body of person who has
died OF diphtheria is extremely danger
GUS.
RULES AND PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBJ
SERVED.
i. Whenever diphtheria is known to be
in the neighb0rhood, all children with
sore throats should be kept apart from
other children until a competent physi-
clan has determined that the sore throat
is not diphtheria.
2. a person with diphtheria should be
placed IN room in the upper story Of the
house, if convenient, as remote as possi-
bic from direct communication with
others, and access should be denied to all
but the necessary attendants. All super
nuous furniture, including carpets, cur
tains, clothing and books, should be re-
moved from the apartment. There
should be free ventilation without drafts
s. y card with "Diphtheria'' printed in
large type should be placed in conspicu-
GUS position on the house, and no child
should be allowed to enter.
t. No food or drink that has been ex-
posed to the atmosphere OF the sicl<room
should be used by well persons, and the
dishes used in the Sickroom should be
washed separately.
5. Neither the bedclothes nor the
patients body linen should be mixed
the general wash until they are first dis
infected.
8. No person recently recovered from
diphtheria should attend school, church
or other public assemblies until declared
by competent physician to be no longer
capable of transmitting the contagion.
I. Under no circumstances should a
public funeral be held of a person dead OF
dlphtheria. Neither must children be
permitted to attend. Upon this point
health officials cannot etoo firm and un-
yielding. All personal considerations
and sentiment must be subordinated to
considerations of public safety
The Importance OF this course should he
explained by the medical profession to
clergymen of all denominations, and their
influence and cooperation earnestly
solicited, in order that the objections and
prejudices OF the careless and uninformed
may be more easily overcome.
DIsINFECTIoN.
AS the discharges from the nose and
throat are highly contagious, they should
be received on cloths, which should be
Immediately burned. The urine, yonited
matter, and discharges from the bowels
should be received in a vessel containing
solution of chloride OF lime in the pro-
portion OF six or eight or more tablespoon
fuls IN gallon OF soft water They should
be allowed to remain in this solution at
least fifteen minutes before being de-
posted IN privy vault or water-closet.
DISINFECTIoN or CLOTHING AND PREMI-
SIS.
The soiled linen. clothing, and towels
should, If possible, be boiled III hot water
for thirty minutes before leaving the
room; but if this be inconvenient, solu-
ton of sulphate of zinc white vitriol
should be made by dissolving half a
pound of the zinc with six tablespo0nfuls
of common table salt in gallon of water
in which the clothes should be soaked two
hours before being washed.
Some physicians may recommend solu-
tiOns of sulphate Of iron green Copperasl
instead of a solution of chloride Of lime,
and a solution Of corrosive sublimate or
carbolic acid instead of sulphate of zine.
1t has been demonstrated, however,
that copperas is not properly disinfect-
ant. 1t is an excellent antiseptic, arrest
ing putrefactive decomposition, but il
does not destroy the vitality of disease
germs or the injecting power Of materials
containing them.
Corrosive sublimate solutions are poi
sonous, and when used should be kept in
earthep, glass or wooden vessels, and
should invariably be labeled poison.
Carbolc acid is also poisonous, and,
like chloride of lime, is sometimes OBJ
lectIonable on account of its odor.
The chloride of lime solution for the
secretlons and objections of the body, and
the zinc solution for the clothes and
linen, viii, perhaps, be the most econom-
lcal and easily obtained tor general use,
and will prove sufficient and satisfactory.
The use Of any Of these agents must be
determined by the attending physician.
The attendants should observe scrupu-
lous cleanliness of hands and clothing.
They should not appear in public until
after having tlrst changed their clothes