The evening times., 1896-11-12
PEABODY SCHOLARS FREE|
DR.. Boss Begins a Thorough
System of Distinction.
DETAILS OF THE SYSTEM
Windows and Even KeyhOles Closed
and the Strongest of vapOrs Used.
Health Office Rules and Penalties
for Violation-The Children Hail
1t With Joy.

When the 900 pupils of the Peabody
School applied Tor admission at O'Clock
this morning usual they found the doors
closed in obedience to the order issued yes
terday afternoon by Health Officer Wood
ward.
';ney were informed that they are not to
return until the building has been thor
oughly disinfected, and possibly not then,
as the matter Is entirel y / n the hands of the
health department
Notwithsta ntiing the sad events which
necessitated this step, the children were
overjoyed at their unlookedfor holiday and
tumblefl over each other in their efforts to
get away to their pastimes.
AbDut % O'Clock DR.. Boss, of the health
department, arrived, with four assistants,
and Immediately began work on the disin
fection. sf.5
1t has been decided to use for this purpose
hefumes OF fformaldehyde, generally KIN 1wn
as formaline, tile most penetrating disn-
fectant known to the medical profession.
The method Of using it is to first seal up
the building so that not a breath of air
can enter. Every window, door, keyhole
and ventilator is closed up with cotton bat
ting and paste.
KEYHoLES STOPPED UP.
One keyhole is left open, through which
is inserted long tube, which carries the
fumes of the acid into the structure. Every
nook and Granny is permeated by the pow
erfni vhpor Which Is certain death To all
disease germs.
All the books and school furniture are
spread around the rooms, so that they can
he more readily reached by the disinfec-
tant.
The fumes OF about four gallons OF the
formaldehyde will tc introduced into the
building. after which the tube will be
Withdrawn. and the keyhole plugged up.
The fumes Will be allowed TO remain in
the building until Saturday, during which
time no one VIII he allowed to enter the
building, as IL would mean aim ost instant
death.
on saturday DR. Boss viii liLerate about
gallon Of am mHIia in the building. which
Will neutralzc the formaldchydc, and make
the building again fit for use.
Dr. Boss thinks the building will be
thrown open to the pupils next Monday,
although that viii depend in part upon
whether any new cases are reported be-
fore tina: time or not.
FOR DIsINFECTING.
In his notice for the closing and disin-
fection of the Peabody school building,
published in The Morning Times, h.aiun
Officer Woodward suggested that the par
ents whose children attended school there
should see that home funigation should
also be attended to, and following that
slip OF paper containing instructions for
the proper performance of the work was
sent to each household
The instructions are for disinfectiou with
fOrIna!dehy6e. The garments" DIR Wood
ward says, should be suspended in a
closet, and the iurnaldehy ytie. in shallow
vessels, such soup plates or siucers
placed under them, md the door kept
tightly closed for three OF -four days. For
nm 81. &,
formal, fornaline, or formaldebyde are
necessary
The disfectant named can be procured
al almost any drug store at rcasona blc
Cost. The object OF ewing the clothing sub
jec ed to IL, is to destroy the germs Of
diphtheria which may have attached by
contact with infected playmates DIR.
Woodward says the disease germs hay
cling 10 clothing for weeks, or, perhaps.
months. and still he dangerous, and he
considers the b ome disinfcction al OF graf
importance as means OF preventing the
spread OF the malady
EIGHT CASES IN ALL.
There have been in ali eight cases dis.
covered am onS the pupils or the Peabody
school, The health officer does not re-
gard the building as unsanitary, nor does
he believe 1t to be seriously infected; but
he directed than it be fumigated, a. a pre-
cautiOnary measure. 1t VII he tn oroughly
and systematically done.
In this connection it may be well to state
that the law, as well as the regul ations to
prevent the spread Of both diphtheria and
scarlet fever, makes IT obligatory upon
every practiciug physician ''or other per
son" prescribing for the sick in the District
to make reportto the ehealth officer of every
case Of either in his charge Immediately
upon its discovery. Failure to comply with
this provision within twenty-four honrs
subjects the offender to a penalty OF mot
less than five nor more than fifty dollars"
In case of second uffense the penalty is
raised tt. mot less than ten nor more than
fifty dollars.
In the event that no physician is in