Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-11-28
Diphtheria
....EpidemiC
POwellsvillc Infected. One Man
Loses Four Children.

/ greatly excited over an epidemic OF
diphtheria raging there. The disease
has broke out in its worst form; the
schools have closed and there is much
anxiety in and around the village.
| MIR. n. j. Davis has lost four chill.
dren in the last four days. two OF
whom were grown. Two more mem.
bers of his family are now i'll with the
disease Besides these there are sev.
eral more cases in the village. DIR.
John 5. Fulton, OF the State board of
Health has visited the place and made
a thorough examination. He has the
following 10 say about the terrible
disease, which may prove valuable adj
vice TO the people OF this county, AL
though we truly hope the disease will
not spread among our people, and we
do not intend to unnecessarily fright
Ell them, the fact that P0wellsville is
near US and our people are in commu-
nication with the people Of that vii
lage nearly every day in the week
should make us careful. DIR. Fulton
says:
Diphtheria, one Of the gravest of
infectious disease is due to bacillus
which invades, by preference, the
mouth, nose, and throat. OF the
many persons whose throats and nose
harbor these little organism only some
develop diphtheria. and they are the
ones whose mucous surface the bacil-
lus is able to penetrate. Neither age
nor robust health exempts any one
from infection, hut children, whose
tissues are less resistant, suffer far
more from diphtheria than DO adults.
Any person, therefore, who has been in
intimate contact with case Of diph-
iberia may carry the infections about
with him and yet remain we'll In
the presence of an epidemic of diph-
iberia every sore throat, however mild,
every running at the nose, in child OF
adult, should be treated with the re.
spect due to formidable enemy.
Every individual who has been in
personal contact with case of diph.
liberia should be regarded as infected
until the contrary is proved.
But man whose nose is infested
with these malignant organisms, car
ries i'll his pocket a thing more deadly.
His handkerchief contains the dried
virus i'll condition to be preserved
indefinitely. 1t may 90 with his own
or other peoples clothing to the un.
suspecting laundress, or il may re.
main for months in the pocket OF an
unused coat, TO be tished out at last n.
virulent as ever.
Bearing in mind these observations
in the outskirts of an epidemic, If one
reflects upon the focus of germs in the
bed chamber OF diphtheria, the view
will be as alarming as the truth will
bear.
1t remains to say much that is ot
better cheer. 1t is quite possible tC
confine the evil influence of a case ot
diphtheria to a radius of six feet or 50
and to make nurse within such mar.
row bounds reasonably secure agaIns
Infection The poison Of diphtheria
is not esaily diiIusible. The patient.
breath though often offensive is mo-
moxious. No particle of active viru,
can escape from his body except il
the form of discharge from his mouth
or nose. nor can any attendant posi-
bly, become infected unless some pom
derable portion OF this discharge i,
conveyed into nose, mouth, or ewes
Surely then the attendant command.
all the avenues. Knowing this much
she will easily avoid direct transfer
of the infection from the patient tC
her,elf To guard against indirect
transfer by means of handkerchiefs
towel, cup. spoon, or, worst OF all. fin
gers, is not So easy. Only unielaXeC
vigilance, and a devout observance o
details will serve this end.
Ii then case Of diphtheria occur.
in your house, do these things relig
iously. Strip the sunniest room, ri
the top OF the house, of its carpets
curtains, upholstery. chairs, pictures
ornaments, trunks, empty closets and
drawers. As far as possible send ouI
everything and bring in nothing which
cannot he baked, boiled, or burned
II you have cheap cot which can he
made comfortable with quilt or two
you have the best possible bed. IL
addition To the necessary queensware
You want pail or two to hold
antiseptic solutions. You must hav,
Il little pile OF towels for your own ex
elusive Use, and large assortment o
cloths, mostly small ones, to serve the
patient in place of fowls, napkins and
handkerchieis. Now bring your pa
tienl in and from this moment YOU
must not permit either yourselfor any
thing in the room TO pass the door
without first going through the mos
rigid antiseptic ritual that you car
conveniently practice.
The little cloths which the patient
uses must do but one single service
aud then either be burned or dropped
into pail of bichloride solution.
Every spoon, cup, thermometer Oh
other article must, after use, he imme
diately immersed in an antiseptic so
luton, and left there until needed
again, when IL must he rinsed in clear
water.
The expectorated or vomted matter,
and the discharges firm the bowel,
and bladder must he treated with
antiseptic solution at once, and before
being carried from the room the uten,i
should be wrapped in cloth wet with
bichloride solution
Your own hands and those of youl
patient are to be objects of momentary
solicitude Keep bowl of bichloridt
solution always ready, and wash your
hands every time you touch youi
patient or his bed. Never touch Won,