The sun., 1892-09-06
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY.

Tho Health Board's Directions Prepared
by DR.. BiGGs. the Pathoioeist.
The following circular was issued to tho
public yesterday from Sanitary Headquarters:
"HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
NEW YORK. Sept S. 1902
THE Board Of Health has approved the fol-
pathologsts. Dr. Hermann NJ. Biggs) in re-
spect to distinction and disinfectants. and
directs that the disinfectants described and
the methods OF their use be employed In the
hospitals for contagious diseases in charge Of
this department. and recommends the Same
to the public In all cases Of contagious disease.
"Dislniection and Disinfeotants-The con-
taRious diseases are caused by minute living
germs. The object OF disinfectioE Is to de-
stroy those. In order that as few articles as
possible shall be exposed to infection by the
disease germs. at tho very beginning Of the
illness all unnecessary furniture ESPECIALLY
upholstered furniture and curtains) and other
unnecessary articles should be removed from
the sick room.
"The following are tho best known disin-
fectsnts:
Il. Heat-Continued high temperatures de-
strey all forms of life. Boiling for at least
one-haf hour will destroy all disease germs.
"2. Carbolic acid. Standard solution No. 1
Is composed Of six ounces OF oarbolie acid. dis
solved in an equal quantity OF glycerine. and
then added to one gallon OF hot water. This
makes approximately five per cent. solution
1-2O) Of carbolic acid. The. com mercinl col
ored impure csrbolio acid will not answer for
this purpose. Great care must be taken that
tho pure acid does not come in contact with
the skin. When practicable. the cartolic solu-
ION oho ho aoA hot n q
IS Corrosive sublimate (bichloride OF mer-
curyl Standard solution No. is composed Of
sixty grains pulverized corrosive sublimate
and sixty grains Of chloride Of ammonia. dis
solved in one gallon Of water. This solution
must be kept in glass. earthen. or wooden ves-
sells tnot in metal vesselsl.
"The above solutions are very poisonous
when taken by mouth. but are harmless when
used externally.
"The proprietary disinfectants. often widely
advertised. and whose composition is kept Sc
cret, are relatively expensive aud often unre-
liable and inefficient. 1t Is important to re-
member that substances which destroy bad
odors are not necessarily disinfectants.
Method Of Disiniection-1. Hands and per-
son. Standard solution No. l should be d.
lutsd with an equal amount Of water Hands
soiled in caring for persons suffering from
contagious diseases, or soiled portions Of the
patients person. should be Immediately and
thoroughly washed in this solution and then
washed with soap and water Tho nails should
be kept perfectly clean and the hands should
always be carefully disinfectsd before eating.
''2. Soiled clothing. towels. NAPKINS. bed
ding. &c.. should be Immediately immersed
In standard solution No. and soaked for
twelve hours. being occasionally moved about
in the fluid 80 as to bring the disinfectant In
contact with all parts. They should then be
wruug out and boiled In soapsuds for one
hour. Articles such as beds. &C.. that can
not be washed. should be burned.
80 Food and Drink.-Food thoroughly
cooked and drinks that have been boilod are
FREQ from disease germs. In presence OF an
epidemic Of cholera or typhoid fever. milk. and
the water used for drinking. cooking wash
ing dishes. de-. should be boiled Just before
using. and all persons should avoid eating
fruit. fresh vegetables. and ice. Ice may, how
evor. be used when ordered for the sick by o
physician.
~ Discharges Of all kinds from patients
suffering from contagious diseases should be
received into earthen vessels containing
standard solution No. !. Special care should
be observed to disinfect at once the vomited
matter and tho intestinal discharges from
cholera patients, - these alone contain the
dangerous germa The volume Of the disin-
fscting solution used should be at least fvs
times as great a. that OF the discharge. After
standing for at least one hour In the dlsinfect-
ing solution these discharges may be thrown
Into the water closet. Bedding or clothing
soiled by the discharges must be at once
placed In solution No. and the hands OF the
attendants disinfected as described above.
"5. Closets. Sinks. dc.-Eacb time the closet
10 used for infected material. at least one
quart OF solution No. l should be poured into
the smptied pan and allowed to remain there.
All discharges should he disinfected before