The record-union., 1895-09-23
A PREVENTIBLE DISEASE.
Precautions to be Taken Against
Cholera.
information Given Out by San Fran
cisco's Health officer. DR..
LoVelace.

At a meeting of physicians from vari-
Gus parts of the State, held in San Fran
cisco a few days ago, DR.. Lovelace. Health
Officer of San Francisco, said: "Cholera
is an absolutely preventible disease. IL
the right precautions are taken there is
no danger. Here are set of rules and
directions which have been drawn up for
the information of communities threat
ened with cholera"
The directions of which DR.. Lovelace
spoke are as follows:
Cholera is not contagious in the same
sense that scarlet fever and smallpox are
contagious; it is not what is commonly
called catching" Ii disnfection and
other precautions are used there IS
scarcely any risk that The disease will
spread to those that nurse or otherwise
attend closely on the sick. Ii is the pres
ent belief of scientists that it is commu-
nicated by specific infection, living
germ known as the coma bacillus"
Every precautionary effort has relation to
preventing the propagation OF this germ
and to its destruction. The disease cam
not exist unless the germ exists. Nor
can the disease exist unless the germ
gains access to the intestinal canal. All
these facts. The excavations of cholera
patient contain the injecting germ. This
Is its primary source.
The cholera germ can be reproductive
outside of The human body under tavora-
BILE conditions. Vile, filthy, undrained
or unsewered tenements, iilthy, satur-
ated soil from leaky dram pipes, an at
mosphere rocking with the gases OF de-
cay, soil polluted with the putrefactive
compound from garbage, kitchen slopS,
sink drains. overlooking privy vaults and
the oyercrowded haunts OF vice and crime
in which misery compels the poor also TO
seek shelter, furnish in the most inviting
form the essential conditions Tor the re-
propagation OF the cholera cOntagIon.
Less aggravated instances OF unsanitary
conditions are proportionateiy danger
Gus. warm, moist atmosphere into
which putre1ylng organic matter Is dis
charging the gases of decay Is favorable
to the development or the germs OF
cholera. The water from wells polluted
by filth from closely adjacent vaults or
drains and other sources OF water sup
ply detiled by sewage, il also Infected
with the specific contagion OF cholera, has
long been recognized as one OF the most
active agents in the spread OF this dis
ease.
With such knowledge of the disease the
measures of prevention are both general
and individual.
The general measures should engage
| the attention of health officers, whose
! duty 1t should be to enforce the highest
standard OF hygiene possible. a syste-
| matte and thorough sanitary survey OF all
| premises within their respective jurisdic-
+ ttions should be made. All nuisaDces
dangerous to the public health should be
romptly abated. The milk supply and
water supply, those common carriers OF
! injection. should receive their special at
! tention. The markets should be inspected
with reference to the quality OF food
/ offered for sale. Notice should be taken
! OF every known means 10y which ii would
! be possible If q case of cholera should
/ occur in their locality that the excavations
/ OF the SICK containing the Injection might
reach the lntestIues OF another suscepti Die
| person.
! Ia the event of cholera appearing in
| town, the Health Officer should provide
| for its care by isolating the case with
! proper attendance and by taking such
action as will insure without any dou bt
tie thorough disinfection OF all the ex-
cretions of The patient. This is the one
essential thing above all others he should
! be sure to have performed. Ii the disin
| fection OF all the excreLaentations dis
| charges of the patient is thorough, there
| can be no spread OF the disease from that
| source.
| Inc luQlNIGudl Il0dSUT65 VI JISCduLlOu
relate to the conduct OF the person. The
tendency to infection varies among in-
dividuals.
The normal acid juices of the stomach
can destroy the infection. But II by any
indiscretions OF diet or other influence
! the digestive powers are impaired or
enfeebled and the cholera germ is not
| destroyed in the stomach, but passes on
to the duodenum, whore there is an aka
! line reaction, great multiplication OF the
germ becomes possible, with elaboration
OF the poisonous ptomaine and establish
ment OF the disease.
Hence the Importance of regular habits
of life of careful preservation of good di
gestive powers. Particularly avoid
drinking large quantities of water be-
! tween meals, because between meals a
neutral reaction of the gastric juices ex-
isis and the protective effects of acid
gastric juice against the bacillus is lost.
| The personal precautions are few and
simple: 4 plain. nutritious diet, meals at
regular hours, indulge in no eXcesses of
eating or drinking, especially of alcoholic
stimulants or ice water; never eat with
out first washing the hands, avoid high
| excitement, great fatigue and taking cold,
and keep cheerful.
Finally, the thorough boiling of milk
| or water while cholera is prevailing is
never to be neglected. In the presence
Of the epidemic all food should be eaten
freshly cooked, because heat Kills the in