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Evening Star, Issue 3507, 20 May 1874, Page 2

There can be no doubt that we have reason to congratulate ourselves on our escape from the epidemics with which we were so seriously threatened a short time since, through the arrival of several immigrant vessels with disease on board. Our immunity is undoubtedly due in a very great measure to the unwearying labors and well-judged precautions of the Board of Health. There is one thing, however, to which we think attention should be drawn in connection with this subject. Our readers are aware that there are two distinct dangers to be avoided in dealing with such diseases as measles, scarlatina, and diptheria. The diseases may be communicated in two different ways—one is by means of contact with or proximity to diseased persons, the other is through .contact with clothes or other effects that have been touched by the bodies of persons affected with these complaints. The Board of Health appears to have given great attention to the means of warding off both these sources of danger; and it must be confessed that the result of their labors has been so far highly satisfactory. We may say that the first of the dangers—that which is likely to be brought about by personal contact—appears to have been completely obviated. How far this has been the case as regards the danger arising from the fact that the germs of disease may remain in clothes or blankets for many months, and then on coming into contact with a healthy person communicate the disease to him, remains to be seen: time alone can show. Many plans for destroying the infectious matter in clothing have been adopted from time to time with move or less success. Thorough washing has been tried, and has failed most signally —indeed, it is believed by many medical men that in numberless cases fatal diseases have been propagated by means of the washing tub. When several families have had their washing done at one washerwoman’s, it has been found in many instances that when the members of one of these families has contracted scarlet fever or measles, the families have been more or less affected with the diseases, while other families living around them have been quite free from them. The fact is that boiling water is not hot enough to : destroy the germs of disease. Gases

and chemical liquids of various kinds i been tried, but all have under certain circumstances failed more or less. One disinfectant, however, has been discovered which will under any circumstances completely destroy disease germs. It is undoubtedly the case that if infected clothing be subjected for a short time to a beat of over 400° Fahr., the noxious matter will be rendered completely innocuous. It thus appears that the dangers arising from this cause may be easily overcome. About two years ago, arrangements were made for submitting immigrants’ effects to this process. A disinfecting chamber was constructed on the Quarantine Island at a cost of about L2OO. It appears, however, that this chamber is not always used. We have been informed by a medical gentleman of high standing in this town that the disinfecting of immigrants’ clothing, «fec., is left to the ship’s doctor, and that he follows his own devices in performing this duty. It appears that the substance used on the last occasion, when the operation of disinfecting had to bo performed, was chlorine gas, We do not undertake to offer any opinion as to the merits or demerits of this gas as a disinfectant \ but we do think that the modus operandi decided upon by competent authorities, after due consideration, ought, in all cases, to be strictly adhered to.