South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2967, 28 September 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1882.

Nature did not make a statesman of the Hon. Mr Dick, Colonial Secretary ; but she made ah earnest and conscientious worker of him. As. a departmental head .be acquits himself well jas.ay Minister of the Crown, he does hisjutmost to,.promote the welfare of the colony. , A recent .action of the hoh. *"gentleman's sufficiently demon r strates his anxiety ’to do good and useful work. He has caused, to. be re-published in the “ Gazette,” of 21st inst., a series of . instructions for, preventing the “spread of contagious or infectious diseases,” from the “ National Board of Health Bulletin,” published , at Washington, U.B. of America. The instructions were originally issued by the Provincial Board of Health of Ontario, Canada; and they are so 'comprehensive, simple, and excellent that no household, .ought to be without them. They refer to the spread of scarlet fever,- diphtheria, small-pox, and other deadly foes to public health. The preamble is specially worthy of notice, for it enunciates two truths which everyone ought to know. The . first is that these diseases are spread by means of particles going from person to person. The second, that they can be stopped, if care and means be taken to destroy them, and prevent their passage. How these diseases are communicated, and how communication may be prevented, are not yet so generally known as could be desired, and it may be worth while for everyone to let “ the two facts above-mentioned sink deep into their minds. Once they are, intelligently received, the adoption of preventive measures. will follow in due course. Certain parts of the body give off contagious particles in certain diseases, and these are carefully enumerated. It is noted specially that these particles may not be communicated from person to person direct, but may fly off into air, water, or food, and so convey disease. This makes it apparent that the utmost care should be taken to destroy

the disease germs, and to check the spread of particles. The plainest directions follow for the afflicted themselves, their friends, and the local authorities. These may be thus briefly stated : isolation of patients, regulation of funerals ; disinfection of clothing and premises. It is further shown how the attendance on patients ought to be conducted. Ventilation of the sick room, burning and disinfection of rags, handkerchiefs, and clothing, and immediate removal and destruction of offensive matter are indispensable. A great deal depends, as everyone knows, on a proper system of and .a list of disinfectants is supplied. It is worthy of notice, by the way, as a fact not generally known, that heat is a most effectual disinfecting agency ; clothes can be effectually disinfected by being placed in an oven. The cburse to' be pursued with dead bodies should be specially noted. The body of a person who has died of any infectious or contagious disease should immediately be washed in a strong chemical solution, wrapped in a sheet steeped in the same, and at once buried. No public funeral should on any account be permitted, and as few persons should attend as possible. After the burial of a deceased patient, the bouse should be cleaned with the utmost care, powerful disinfectants being employed, and a complete fumigation being made during several hours. Bnrning sulphur is strongly recommended, and ic is strongly urged that fabrics should not be burned until they have been fumigated. The utmost carefulness is recommended on the part of well people, not to place themselves within reach of contagion or infection, or to neglect ventilation,: drainage, food, &c. These instructions are very comprehensive and simple, and ought to be given the widest publicity, and we trust the Colonial Secretary will not be satisfied with gazetting them, but, will, without delay cause them to be circulated everywhere. The prevalence of sickness is always due to neglect of preventive measures, and it js perfectly amazing how little even intelligent people seem to know, or care about, the commonest laws of health. We trust these instructions will be universally read and followed out, for the observance of them capnot fail to promote the healtbfuihesss of the community, and Mr Dick’s re-publication of,'such useful practical information does equal credit to his heart and bis head. ,