In a paper read at the Medical Society of Victoria,
Australia, Dr. Day stated that, " having for many years
regarded diphtheria, in its early stage, as a purely
local affection, characterized by a marked tendency to
take on putrafactive decomposition, he has trusted
most to the free and constant application of antisep-
tics, and when they have been used from the first, and
been combined with nourishing food, he has seldom
seen blood poisoning ensue. The frequent use of a
gargle, made of a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water,
giving children who can not gargle one or two tea-
spoons full to djrink occasionally. Adults should use the
gai^le as a preventive four times a day. " I should not
cease to use other helps and send for a physician at
once. Do not forget to use the sulphur smudge as a
disinfectant.
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever.
The following extract from a circular issued by Dr.
James Crane of the Brooklyn Health Department, has
important sug^stions which are equally applicable to
city and country, wherever these diseases exist:
Diphtheria and scarlet fever are highly contagious
diseases, attacking persons of all ages. They must be
contracted from persons that are already affected,
from the clothes they have worn and from everjrthing
which has been in the room with them. Even tl»
walte of the ndont may infect persons coining into it
268 The Queen Cook Book
after the patient has recovered, unless the poison is de^
stroyed. In order to prevent their spread in a family
or house where they exist and to promote the recovery
of the persons attacked, the following simple measures
should be conscientiously and rigidly carried out,
thereby preventing much suffering and saving human
life: An upper, sunny room, provided, if possible,
with an open fireplace, and with no other children on
the same floor, should be arranged for the patient by
removing everything from it which can possibly be
spared, such as books, clothing and window curtains,
remembering that when once the patient has entered
the room nothing can with safety be removed until dis-
infected or fumigated. One or two adults should take
entire charge of the patient, under no circumstances
coming in contact with other persons, more especially
children. Open windows and open fireplaces, with
fire in them day and night, avoiding draughts and
chilly air, protect the sick and those who nurse them.
Nothing should be removed from the room when the
patient has once entered it until it has been thoroughly
disinfected or fumigated.
Procure from a drug store one pound of sulphate of
zinc; the price should not exceed thirty cents. Put
into an ordinary water pail eight tablespoonsful of sul-
phate of zinc and four of common salt, and to this add
one gallon of boiling water. This disinfecting solution
is to be kept in the room, and into it should be placed
and kept for one hour every article of soiled clothing,
bedding, handkerchiefs, etc. When they are removed
from this they should be put into boiling water before
being washed. The dishes and spoons used by the
patient should be put into boiling water before they
are permitted to leave the room. Remember that
every article which is in the room can convey the
The Queen Cook Booh a€9
disease and that nothing should go from it until the
poison which it might carry is destroyed.
See that the whole house from cellar to attic is
clean. Keep the cellar dry, well ventilated and well
whitewashed. Never allow, even for a day, garbage or
other filth to be kept in it. Open the windows of
sleeping rooms every day for as long a time as possi-
ble, fresh air being an excellent disinfectant.
Sulphur in Scarlet Fever.
Page 105
Presented as published in 1895. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
In a paper read at the Medical Society of Victoria, Australia, Dr. Day stated that, " having for many years regarded diphtheria, in its early stage, as a purely local affection, characterized by a marked tendency to take on putrefactive decomposition, he has trusted most to the free and constant application of antiseptics, and when they have been used from the first, and been combined with nourishing food, he has seldom seen blood poisoning ensue. The frequent use of a gargle, made of a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water, giving children who can not gargle one or two teaspoons full to drink occasionally. Adults should use the gargle as a preventive four times a day. " I should not cease to use other helps and send for a physician at once. Do not forget to use the sulphur smudge as a disinfectant.
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever.
The following extract from a circular issued by Dr. James Crane of the Brooklyn Health Department, has important suggestions which are equally applicable to city and country, wherever these diseases exist:
Diphtheria and scarlet fever are highly contagious diseases, attacking persons of all ages. They must be contracted from persons that are already affected, from the clothes they have worn and from everything which has been in the room with them. Even the waste of the room may infect persons coining into it
268 The Queen Cook Book
after the patient has recovered, unless the poison is destroyed. In order to prevent their spread in a family or house where they exist and to promote the recovery of the persons attacked, the following simple measures should be conscientiously and rigidly carried out, thereby preventing much suffering and saving human life: An upper, sunny room, provided, if possible, with an open fireplace, and with no other children on the same floor, should be arranged for the patient by removing everything from it which can possibly be spared, such as books, clothing and window curtains, remembering that when once the patient has entered the room nothing can with safety be removed until disinfected or fumigated. One or two adults should take entire charge of the patient, under no circumstances coming in contact with other persons, more especially children. Open windows and open fireplaces, with fire in them day and night, avoiding draughts and chilly air, protect the sick and those who nurse them. Nothing should be removed from the room when the patient has once entered it until it has been thoroughly disinfected or fumigated.
Procure from a drug store one pound of sulphate of zinc; the price should not exceed thirty cents. Put into an ordinary water pail eight tablespoonsful of sulphate of zinc and four of common salt, and to this add one gallon of boiling water. This disinfecting solution is to be kept in the room, and into it should be placed and kept for one hour every article of soiled clothing, bedding, handkerchiefs, etc. When they are removed from this they should be put into boiling water before being washed. The dishes and spoons used by the patient should be put into boiling water before they are permitted to leave the room. Remember that every article which is in the room can convey the
The Queen Cook Booh a€9
disease and that nothing should go from it until the poison which it might carry is destroyed.
See that the whole house from cellar to attic is clean. Keep the cellar dry, well ventilated and well whitewashed. Never allow, even for a day, garbage or other filth to be kept in it. Open the windows of sleeping rooms every day for as long a time as possible, fresh air being an excellent disinfectant.
Sulphur in Scarlet Fever.