The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-18
TO WARD OFF DIsEAeE.
The Public Health Committee on the
Scarlet Fever.

The Public Health Committee on the
Scarlet Fever.
At the last meeting of the committee On
public health of the Citizens Sanitary As
tocisti0n resolution was adopted REQUEST
ing she publication Of the following suR-
Rsstions to the people Of Savannah, by the
chairman Of the committee, DR.. J. c. LIE
Hardy:
scarlet fever.
Scarlet fever belongs TO that class OF
diseases from which ooutagion is trans
uitted through the air. The nature of the
organism producing this disease has moi. az
vet, been clearly demonstrated but it Is
evidently very minute and floats about in
every part OF the room IN which a patient
afflicted with the disease is confined. The
micrube Is given of in the breath and bv
calculations from the body, and IL che doors
of house In which the disease has ap-
pssred are left open, infection may extend
10 every part Of the house.
To prevent the spread Of this dangerous
disease, first keep children away from it if
possible, 2. When any child indicates
symptoms Of the disease, all other children
in the same house should be sent away
from It,
The patient should then be taken to a
room in the uppermost part Of the house /:
prepared for occupation Of the patient by
the removal from it of everything not ab-
solutely necessary 30 the comfort Of the pa
tent.
Contsgion is more ant to be carried by
the air upward than otherwise; hence no
patient afflicted with scarlet fever should
occupy lower room. The nurse of such
patients should, as far as Dos
sible, remain on the same floor
with the patient, and te careful
to avoid contact with other members of the
family, especially children.
The nurse, by cgrelessly coming to the
lower part OF the house, may carry poison
Of the disease all over it aud well persons in
it thereby become infected. As the poison
Of the disease will attach Itself 20 clothing
1t is always dangerous for well persons to
visit the sick chamber and come out Of it,
as by so doing they may spread the disease
wherever they go. Nurses, or other attend
ants upon such patients, should not go
about from the sick room until they have
taken disinfecting baths aud completely
changed their clothing. Pet animals or toys
should not be allowed in the room Of a
child, affiiosed with the disease. for its
amusement, as they are liable to convey In
lection. Letters SHOULD not be written in
aud sent out from the patients room for the
came reason. The use of books in the room
from public library is attended with like
risk.
Scarlet fever is much more fatal among
children than measles and much more TO be
dreaded. a greater number of children die
annually from scarlet few or than from any
ether contagious disease. The older a per-
son ls the less danger; therefore small
children should be taken away from the
disease Immediately upon its appearance in
house occupied by them A patient with
the disease should be isolated at once and
kept so until the skin regains its normal con-
ditlon. During convalescenoe the outer layer
Of the patients skin peels of and small par
ticles containing the germs of the disease
fly about, hence the necessity for isolation
Of the patient until the peeiing process is en-
tirely completed, involving time of from
Six to eight weeks duration. To lessen the
risk Of oontagiOn during this period the skin
should be rubbed over with bacon, olive oil g,
cocoa butter or vaseline.
Except smallpox there is, perhaps, no
other disease in which the germs Of CON
tagiOn cling 80 long TO the body, therefore a
oonvalescent from scarlet fever should be
avoi@d as carefully as person suffering
from the disease.
Now what should be done to make an
apartment safe for occupancy after being
infected with scarlet fever9 Disinfection of
ltl What Is dlsnfection2 It is the process
ny WHICH disease germs are QeSEFOyeQ. ANY
agent that will destroy disease germs is
disinfectant. Many persons imagine that
any substance which is capable of dispelling
offensive odors is a disinfectanU, but this is
mistake. Unless the substance applied
destroys the germ of a disease it is worth
less as disinfectant. Deodorants
may he used TO render the sick room
agreeable, but it is always best 20 get rid Of
bad odors by cleanliness and fresh air than
10 Irua Hakk -.
turn vitiated air out of a window OF up a
chimney or ventilator than to use chemicals,
such as carbolic acid, chloride OF lime, etc
The use Of disiufectants in room while the
patient occupies it is dangerous, but after
the patient has been removed from the sick
room every article in it should be disin-
fected
Every garment or piece of bedding that
can be washed should be put into a disin-
tecting solution, then boiled and Numbered.
Boiling for half hour will destroy all disease
germs. All bedding or clothing that can
not be washed should be disInfected by hot
air at 25OS or suDerheated steam; and the
city authorities should furnish appliances
Tor this purpose in order that the Door as
well as the rich could have articles disin-
fected.
If the room occupied by person with
scaFleG lever Is papered, after removing
everything else from it the papering should
also be removed and the walls, woodwork
and hoor should be washed with solution
or oichlorlde OF mercury. one part to 1000
OF water. After this is done the woodwork
and floor should be thoroughly scrubbed
with soap and hot water. Never use a DUST
ing brush or feathers in a room where CON-
tagion exists.
Disease germs, as well as dust, are dis
lodged by the brush and feathers, and may
be taken up by them and carried to some
susceptible person. Il would be better to
wipe the dust of with cloth wet in some
dislnfecting solution. The burning of sui
phur is not to be relied upon as a germ de-
stroyer. The corrosive subllmAte solution is
infinitely superior to it IL properly applied
II sulphur be used at ell, the room and
everything in it should be well Gnoistened
and three pounds of sulphur burned to
every 1000 cubic feet OF air space and the
room kept closed up for twenty-four hours
thereafter.
pbilIfYas Tl{oraaffT1lo yrooo