Telegram-herald., 1891-09-30
HEALTH AND DISEASE
CONSUMPTION AND CONTAGIOUS
asw % Pssseas the spresd Of zyssssis
asd spersdis Diseases fsvsrs ssa
Measles aud Diphrhsria IA
piaiaed Ia Detail.

The State Board OF Health is dis
tribnting thousands Of leaflets with tie
view Of restraining ard preventing the
most prevalent OF the contagious dis
eases. These Leaflets show the scale OF
mortality from such diseases. Con.
sumption ia the most prevalent and
deadly, and its victims are almost equal
IA nnmbcr to thoso Of diphtheria. ~
phoid fever, scarlet feyrf, whooping
cough. neasels and small pox com-
bined. Dsphthefia is next IA prevalence.
aud its victims are more than those Of
typhoid and scarlet fever combined.
The most careful details for the pre-
vention aud restriction OF the diseases
ls given in the leaflets. Ia regard 10
consumption the Ieailet says:
The mode OF communication of this
disease Is mainly from th- dried Fputa
frcm consumptiyes. Tie germs IN the
sputa are carried into the air by sweep
ings, and deposited upon walls or con-
tents OF rooms, or find their way TO the
lungs Of persons.
How the spata shonid Be Destroyed.
No consumptiye should cxpcctoratc
on the floor. Cuspidors, in hotels and
other public places and in rooms oc-
cupied by consunptives, should be
partly flied WITH water. They should
be washed twice each day III boiling
water, and the contents should be dis
infected with n solution of bchiorIde
of mercury. The cuspidor might well
contain constantly disinfectant, such
as a 5 per cent. solution of cslrbolic
acid,--one ounce of carbolic acid DIS
solved in pint and y hsIf of water.
The consumplive should carry small
pieces Of cloth teach just large enough
to properly receive one sputum) and
paraffined paper envelopes or wrappers
in which the cloth, as soon as once
used. may be put and securely en-
closed, and, with its evelope, burned
on the first opportunity.
The unwashed clothing of con-
sumptive should not be mingled with
the unwashed clothing of another per-
son; care should be taken that the
handkerchlefs be boiled, that other
articles liable to harbor the bacillus
should be disinfected. and that no
virus come In contact with cut or
injured hand.
No one should sleep in the same room
with a consumptive patient; or in
room which has been occupied by
consumptive, unless the room has been
previously subjected to the fumes of
burning sulphur. A room winch has
been occupied bv consumptive person
may we'll with all its contents1 be
thoroughly disinfected, first subiecting
it, for twcnty-fdur hours, to strong
fumes OF burning sulphur, and then Il
should for several hours he exposed to
currents of fresh air, After fumiga-
ton the walls may be rubbed with
bread crumbs, which should then be
burned.
Fever ana the Measles.
In Michigan, Dyphtheria and scarlet
fever are the most contagious diseases.
as that term is usually understood: the
most dangerous communicable diseases,
named in the order of their importance
as causes of deaths, are consumption,
diphtheria, pneumonia, typhoid fever
scarlet fever, whooping cough, measles
and smallpox.
Typhoid fever. Unlike typhus fever.
typhoid fever is not often contracted
directly from the sick person, but from
the discharges from the bowels of the
sick person; these should always be dis
infected. The chief source of danger
is believed to be drinking water c0n-
taminated by teaching from privies.
etc. All suspected water shouId be
boiled.
Measles 10 a dangerous, contagious
disease, hence IL is a disease danger
Gus to the pnhlic health" under the
laws in Michigan, and the Observance
of the following precautions is of im-
poriance.
Every person known 10 he SICK with
measles should be promptly and thor
oughiy isolated from the public; no
more persons than are actually neces-
cary should have charge If or visit the
patient, and they should 10 restricted
in their intercourse with osher persons.
Householders and physcisns must
Immediately give notice of the first
case and of every cAAe of measles 10
the health officer or TO the president or
clerk of the local board of health. This
is required by law.
According TO DR.. Farr'e law-of in
crease of contagious diseases as density
of population incresses--the deatb-rate
from measles, unless restrictive meas-
ures are taken. will undoubtedly
rapidly increase in Michigan. with the
rapidly increasing population, and es-
pecially with the rapidly increasing
lines of railroads and other facilities
for easy. frequent. and rapid move
ments of the people. The present very
considerable mortality from measles.
and also the much greater mortality
which may be expected. supply urgent
reasons whv the measures herein
recommended should be generally and
thoroughly adopted aud enforced.