The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-06-18
DIPHTHERIA.
Its Restriction and PreventiOn-K"ies
Issued by the Board of Health

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guidance of the public, the strict obserV-
ance of which will materially tend to re-
strict its spread. 1t is therefore matter
of vital Importance that every householder
should without delay see that his premises
and surroundings are thoroughly cleaned
and abundantly disinfected; not alone where
the disease now actually exists, but every
where within the limits Of the town,
whether under individual or coporate man
agement and jurisdiction. The following
are the most salient points relating to the
subject of prevention of diphtheria as issued
by the State Board, and it is greatly to be
hoped the public will be promptly guided
by them
1. When a child or young person has
sore throat. and especially if it has fever,
it should Immediately be kept separated
from all other persons, except neces-
sary attendants, until it be ascertained
whether or not it has diphtheria or some
other communicable disease.
>. Every person known to be sick with
diphtheria should be promptly and
thoroughly isolated from the public; no
more persons than are actually necessary
should have charge of or visit the patient,
and they should be restricted IN their IN
tercourse with other persons.
3. Plain and distinct notices should be
placed upon the premises "r house IN
which there is person sick with diphtheria,
and no child should be allowed to enter.
1. Householders or physicians should
Immediately give notice of the first case and
every case of diphtheria, to the local health
officer. or to the Secretary of the State
Board of Health. This is required by the
law of 1890, chapter 622.
.. Upon receipt of such notice, the
health officer has duties to perform in
taking measures to restrict the spread OF
the disease, which is great violation of
public trust to neglect or postpone. He
should, whenever he has reason to believe
that there is in his jurisdiction case OF
diphtheria, promptly investigate the sub
ject.
6. The room into which one sick with
diphlheria is placed should previously be
cleared of all needless clothing, carpets,
draEery and other materials likely to har-
Dor the poison of the disease. The room
should constantly receive a liberal supply
Of fresh air, without currents or drafts
directly upon the patient. 1t will be well
also to have sun shine directly into the
room.
I. The discharges from the throat,
nose and mouth are extremely liable to
communicate the disease, and should be
received in vessels containing strong dis
infectant, or on soft rags or pieces of cloth
which should Immediately be burned.
s. The discharges from the kidneys
and bowels are also dangerous, and may be
passed into vessels containing strong solu-
ton of sulphate of iron tcopperas), and
then be buried at least 300 feet distant
from any well; the discharge may be disin-
fected by thoroughly mixing with each
discharge not less than one ounce of chic
rinated lime; when this is impracticablc
they should be passed ON old cloths, which
should Immediately be burned.
8. The clothing, towels, bed linen, etc,
on removal from the patient, should at
once, before removal from the room, be
placed in pail or tub of boiling hot zinc
solution, made in proportion as follows
Water, one gallon; sulphate Of zinc, four
ounces: common salt, two ounces.
10. Nurses and attendants should be
required to keep themselves and their
patient as clean as possible; their own hands
should frequently be washed and disinfected
by chlorinated soda.
Paragraphs No. 6, Z, s, 8 and 10 should
be carefully carried out to prevent the
extension of the disease.
IL. All persons recovering from diph-
liberia should be considered dangerous;
therefore such person should not be per-
mitted to associate with others, or to attend
school, church, or any public assembly
until the throat and any sores which may
have been on the lips or nose are healed,
cor until in the judgment of careful and
Intelligent physician he can do so without
endapgering others; nor until after all his
clothing has been thoroughly disinfected,
aud this without regard to the time which
has elapsed since recovery if the time is
less than one year. Nor should person
from premises in which there is or has
been case of diphtheria attend any school,
Sunday school, church or public assembly,
or be permitted by the health authorities
or by the school board to do so, until after
disinfeetion Of such premises and of the
clothing worn by such person, if it shall
have been exposed to the contagion of the
disease.
u. The body of person who has died
of diphtheria should be washed with zinc
solution of double the strength stated in
paragraph 8, then wrapped in sheet wet
with the zinc solution, and at once be
buried In no case should the body be
exposed to view.
13. No public funeral should be held
at a house in which there is case of diph-
iberia, nor in which death from diph-
iberia has recently occurred. Except
under extraordinary precautions there
shOald be no public funeral of person
who has died from diphtheria. No child
should attend, and it would be better in
most cases that few adults should attend
funeral of person dead of diphtheria.
IA. After a death or recovery from
diphtheria, the room in which there has
been case of diphtheria, whether fatal or
not, should, with all its contents, be
thoroughly disinfected by exposure for
several hours to strong fumes Of burning
sulphur, and then, if possible, it should
for several hours or days be exposed to
currents of fresh air.
a. Because of the innumerable ways
in which the contagion may be scattered
about the house and premises where there
had been a case of diphtheria, the entire
house and outbuilding, including cellar,
garnet, woOdshed and privy, will usually
need to be disinfected.
b. Rooms to be disinfected must be
vacated. Heavy clothing, blankets, bed
ding and other articles which cannot be
treated with the zinc solution, should be
spread out 80 as to be thoroughly exposed