Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-23
8liseellanso,'s 8sadins.
PREvENTABLE DISEASES.
There Should Be Cleanliness and ordi.
nary Care.

nary Care.
The insects which infest human hab-
itations have for a long time been
supposed to be the carriers Of the in
fective agents of certain diseases
Only since the demonstration by Ross
in 1897, that mosquitoes convey the
infective agents Of malaria that this
suspicion has been firmly established.
Reed, in 1900 discovered by expert
ments made in Havana, that the mos
quito conveys the infective agent Of
yellow fever. The way to prevent
these diseases is very obvious; exter-
inmate the mosquito. 1t Is not prac-
ticable to exterminate them entirely
though much can be done by drainage,
and by pouring kerosene oil on stag
nant water, fumigating rooms thor
oughly by burning sulphur will get rid
Of them for q short time. One should
use a good mosquito net. Expert
ments have shown that flies convey
typhoid fever germs. Kitchens and
dining rooms should be so perfectly
screened that not one fly could be ad-
mitted. Other sources of typhoid are
impure water, milk, etc. Typhoid fe-
yer is contagious, but by the proper
use Of disinfectants in the room Of one
Ill Of this disease will destroy the in
fective agent almost entirely, and pre-
vent the disease from spreading. Koch
in 1881, discovered the germ, which
causes consumption. This useful dis
covery enables us to prevent the spread
of this disease. II one who has con-
sumption spits on the sidewalk or In
a car, the sputum dries. and we inhale
the germs in the dust. The disease Is
communicated from the diseased to
the healthy in this way. Fortunately
many persons are immune and inhale
germs, which do not take" One
who has consumption should expector-
ate in a spittoon which contains an
antiseptic or the sputum should be
burned This precaution will prevent
the spread Of consumption. The seats
of cars should be covered with linen
slips, or some material which can be
sterllized by boiling and frequent
changes should be made. Contagious
diseases are liable to be contracted In
cars, which have not been properly
disinfected Dust Is the harbinger Of
disease. To dust as usually practic-
ed, merely means to distribute dust
more equally over a room. The only
way to remove dust is to wipe every
thing with a damp cloth. And all
furniture ought to be so made that 1t
can be wiped with a damp cloth with
out injury. In private houses cases
Of purulent opthalmia. ending In
blindness have been known to occur
from the use of a soiled towel by an
other member Of the family. If the
surgeon were to disregard dust and
not sterilize his field Of operations he
would indeed get poor results. He
too we'll knows that the germs which
cause suffruation are In dust. A dirty
carpet literally infects the room. The
best floor Is some non-absorbent ma
terial, or wood with oil paint over
which a new coating could OCCASION
ally be applied. The same is true of
walls. The walls If plastered can be
kept safe by frequent lime-washing.
Furniture should be Of polished wood,
metal or marble from which dust can
be easily removed. Curtains should,
If used, be of material which can be
sterilized by boiling. Thorough ven
tilation is essential for a healthful
room. Bed clothing should be of ma
terial every particle Of which may be
sterilized. This may be done by either
dry or moist heat Heat Is the best
and Is the cheapest disinfectant, 1t
destroys all disease germs.-Dr. B. F.
Rea, in Lafayette (Tenn.) Sun.