The Fielding Star. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4, 1882. CONTAGIOUS OR INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 31, 4 October 1882, Page 2

The Fielding Star. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4, 1882. CONTAGIOUS OR INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

_ r* In a recent. Government Gazette there appears a copy of a code of instructions concerning the measures to b*° adopted in preventing the spread of scarlet fever, diphtheria, smallpox, die, published at Washington, United States cf America. As the subject is of vital importance to every one in Feilding, we purpose making a few extracts from the more important clauses, for the guidance and assistance of our readers. Ihe diseases

above-named are spread by means of infectious particles going from person to person, aud cm be stopped it carp and systematic means ore taken to destroy the germs ot disease, and to prevent their being carried from one person to another. The portions of the body thrown off, containing the contagion, may pass into the air, or find their way into water or food, and in this way be introduced by breathing, drinking, eating, or through tin broken surfaces of the body. It is then-fore advisable in order to localize the disease, that the bedroom of a person sick with scarlet fever, ditditheri.i, or other infectious disease, should be cleared of all needless clothing, carpets, &c, liable to harbor the poison of the disease The supply ot air should be unlimited, in summer : the windows kept open, and j draits prevented by wire or guage netting. Disinfectants to be at band. I and libera ly used. Attendants should only wear cotton or linen clothes or over-alls. Con^alesents should not be allowed to mix with healthy people, and all contaminated clothing or bedding should be destroyed or disinfected. Persons in good health should avoid special con tag-ion of the disease. If a case is visited, it will be advisable to bathe, especially the hands, face, and hair in a disin'ectant solution; and change and disim'ect all clothing' before going where there is a child. Houses are to be kept clean an 1 dry, and sewer conn cnons and drains well ventilated. Give special attention to the purity of the milk supply. Avoid exposure to wind and cold dry air j Do not wear or handle clothing worn by a person during sickness or convalescence from contagious diseases. In connection with this subject it should be remembared that two much attention cannot be paid to surroundings in general, smh as drainage, ventilation, food, warmth, &c. Examine relative p sitio_is of wells and privies. In country districts, isolated outbreaks, traceable to cesspool effluvia, are not at ail uncommon. In a low lying situation like that of Feilding, all of these last precautions are absolutely necessary to prevent the outbreak of disease. We strongly recommend the City Fathers to make some movement towards establishing a proper system of drainage in the Borough. The summer months are now upon us, and we will certainly have the melancholy task of chronicling the deaths of a numb r of adults and infants in the lowest and - worst drained parts of the Borough, unless some means are immediately adopted to prevent the outbreak of disease, resulting from the want of drainage or proper sanitary regulations. Already there are plenty of back yards urgently needing an inquisitorial visit from the Inspector of Nuisances.