The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-01
MEANS OF SAFE Y,

M[AN0 Ut 0AF[ Il
CIRCULAR FORTY FIVE.
New jersey State Board of Health
Whenever the possibility of an out
break of cholera is threatening, all
methods for thorough cleanliness
should be applied with renewed vigor.
For it is a mistake to suppose that
cholera falls like a thunderbolt and
accomplishes widespread destruction
without regard to locality. On this
point the Cholera Commission of the
German Empire is full and explicit.
1.-The most important part is played
by the l8cality itself to which the dis
ease germ is brought" II depends in
part "the saturation of the soil with
the decomposition of certain sub
stances, and a condition of soil which
favors such decomposition Part
VI, pages 3t4-31S, says:-"The COM
mission expresses the united opinion
of all the most experienced physicians
when it says that the strictsst atten-
ton to all the measures demanded by
public general hygiene. offers the best
protection against cholera" This is
still the sure Judgment of the best
authorities.
Along highways. of travel, as wher-
ever else it lights. with occasional
apparent exceptions, an analysis of
tile facts shows the rule to be that its
yirulence is in proportion to the neg
lect of sanitary conditions. 1T is
spread mora by injecting localities
than by infected persons"
For these reasons city and village
officers and all householders should
see to it that no form OF decomposa-
bic matter is kept on or about the
premises, that all pipes are Choir
ouglily flushed and ventilated, that
there be close inspection of dwellings
and surroundings. that pure water
and wholesome foods are used, and
where soil or cesspools r already
filth sodden and cannot be removed,
that the disinfecting solutions here
| with recommended be thoroughly and
frequently sprinkled.
But because ssall measures for the
| cleansing OF the soil and it's better
drainage are too often too late when
begun, at the time OF the outbreak of
an epidemic, all places should insti-
| tute close sanitary inspection aud
| proper cleansing in advance, SO as to
| prevent an outbreak and liiuit its ex-
tent"
In dealing with epidemics which
! come from without, a great secret of
success is in doing beforehand all that
| can be done to prevent the settling
| and spread of the disease, and in de-
Gliding just what you will do with the
| first case or cases that occur.
We are safe in acting on the basis
| that the following facts are settled
as to cholera
/. Although the view of direct con-
tagion is not supported. transmission
| of the disease takes place without
| doubt in two ways:-(a) From the
| patient, particles or secretions are
| thrown off which are not capable at
| once of acting as cholera poison, but
which in a few hours are SO changed
as to become the specific poison; and
(b) so, also, in the presence of such q
centre of infection, material for dis
ease may attach itself to soil, locality
and surroundings, and whenever ii
finds appropriate conditions for its
reproduction, it may light up an
Epidemic
While these facts need not cause
attendants to fear catching the dis.
ease, they are reasons why the pa
tient should be isolated, why only
persons needed should be in attend
ance, and why all in charge lose not
the opportunity of dealing with ma
terials and surroundings which, al
though not cholera poisons. are quite
SURE quickly to become SO. or TO be
carriers OF them, If nothing Is done.
Dirty persons with dirty clothing in
yite disease, and SO personal cleanli
ness must be secured.
AS persons may unavoidably bt
brought in contact with infected 10
c~alities, such are advised to use, al
time of exposure aud before eacl
meal, two grains of quinine. four
drops OF aromatic sulphuric acid, anl
four drops OF the tincture of chloride
of iron, in a half tablespoonful o
water which has been boiled.
In necessary visits % infected
premises consume nothing Will
there but the air you breathe ans
carry nothing home.n
What to do with the first case tina
occurs:-
Consider that the wise management
Of 1t may moi only determine the wei
fare OF the patient but of the who'll
community.
1st. Get the history Of the Ease a
soon MS possible, and take care of al
baggage and clothing and all tina
appertains to- the patient. If you cal
control where the sick person is to b