The evening times., 1896-11-26

| Health Officer Woodward cites the pres
ent situation as to diphtheria as one of
| the strongest possible arguments in favnr
| OF the establishment of a hospital for
minor contagious.
He has often insisted, officially and
otuerwise, that the construction OF such
| an institution is among the most impOr-
| tant things for District consideration. IL
| is probable that strong effort VIII DC
made this winter to secure an appropria-
ton for the purpose.
A hospital can be built, lie says, and
doubtless should be, with both free wards
and pay wards. Arrangements might be
made FOR the convenience OF parents who
would want to attend their children dur
ing the illness, With such provision
for isolation, Dr. Woodward says, the
danger from any contaSion can be min
imiZed.
Within an hour or two of the discovery OF
case of diphtherin in family the one
affected could be comfortably housed in the
hospital, and by prompt disinfection of the
room from which the patient WAS removed
the communication OF the disease to other
members Of the family might be prevented
WARD FOR SUSPECTS.
DR.. Woodward also recommends that n
ward be provided, should the hospital ever
become Il reality, for the reception OF cases
suspected OIL DcliS CoHtdSluuS DS llilS
means all danger of communicating it to
others. should the case develop, would be
practically removed.
Quoting from a report recently made by
c. A. Lingsley, NJ. d., secretary y OF the State
board OF health of Connecticut. DR.. Wood
ward illustrated his point in favor of IN
isolation hospital The report read:
An isolation hospital is an institution
for the best treatment of contagious dis
eases, and in such manner as to entirely
protect the public. 4 pest hodse is a EOIse
in which are patients with conta giuus dis
eases, and where the precautions necessary
TO public safety are neglected. or, by reason
of circumstances, impossible"
This description was applied by the
Connecticut physician to the residences in
New Haven, his home, where there were
developed cases of either scarlet fever or
diphtheria, and he said they numbered
fifty or more.
DR.. Woodward also cited n number OF
local instances, among them the case of a
farnily, consisting OF the parents and three
children, who are living in il house of three
rooms. The father Was i'll, the mother
served as cook, housckecper and nurse.
one OF the children developed diph-
iberia, and naturally another contracted the
disease. The health officer is in daily
expectation Of Il notice that the third child
is III OF it. With an Isolation hospital to
moved, the other two childrcn might have
been spared.
DISTINCTION OF SCHOOLS.
The systematic course OF disinfection be-
gun this morning by direction of Health Of
ficer Woodward embraces more than 100
school buildings. Upon the suppusition tina t
anyone of these structures might contain
the germs OF diphthcria, the precautionary
measure was decided upon. and. although IL
&c far
yesterday, that there is no cause for alarm
knowledge OF the peculiarities OF the dis
ease prompted the adoption OF i method of
safety.
The disease is classcI hy the medical fra
ternity as pre-eminentiy one which is pc
culiar TO childhood. although it VIII recur
in persons Of adult re who had previously
been afflicted with it.
The germs fly about in the air and adhere
to clothing, bedding. towels, wall paper
cloths. and even to the woodwork in a
room where there is patient The chief
danger is from inhalation OF the patients
breath. but there are many other forms of
communicating it.
1t is because of the dangers above out
lined. with respect To the adherence of the
germs to the clothing. that the health Off |
Ger prescribed the cleansing process for the
school houses and advised that parents have.
disipfected the clothing Worn to school by |
their children
The solution employed in the disin- |
fecting process is poison. If taken inter |
nally, and corrosiyesH applied externally |
in its undiiuted state ,and great care in its |
use 5 imperative
1t is the intention Of the health office as |
heretofore, to keep each school house under |
from this time forward The |
same solution prescribed for the present |
is To he kept ready for future |
use in aShinr the desks a nd chairs pf Durils |
who may develop contagious disease later |
on.
But one case of Giphthcria and one of |
scarlet fever We're reported to the health |
office this morning. one recovery from
diphtheria was also noted.