those who may feel an interest in the work, which contributions are always welcomed. From the correspondence elicited chiefly by this circular, numerous quotations have been made which will be presented in another article. The effort is made to present in this selection such extracts as illustrate the spirit of the correspondence, and as appears likely to be of most general interest. Thanks are due not only to these correspondents, but to many from whose letters no quotations have been made, for painstaking accuracy in the collection of statistics and for information of permanent value. It is regretted that the limited space at command has made it necessary to make these quotations in many cases very brief. CIRCULARS RELATING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH. Shortly after the first meeting of the Board, and in pursuance of its directions then given, a circular on the restriction of SCARLET FEVER AND DIPHTHERIA was prepared. This circular was distributed to the press of the state and by it very generally reprinted, thus securing for it a very wide circulation. In addition to this, large numbers were distributed to health officers, physicians and others. In La Crosse the circular was reprinted by the health officer, for distribution in that locality, "especial pains being taken to place a copy in the hands of every family where a case of scarlet fever or diphtheria was reported." The requests for copies or packages of this circular have been so numerous that the supply first printed was found to be insufficient, and a second large addition was accordingly provided. The circular is as follows: OFFICE STATE BOARD OF Health, SCARLET FEVER AND DIPHTHERIA are the diseases now most prevalent in the state, in many places assuming the form of an epidemic of great severity, and of unusual fatality. Both of these diseases are highly contagious, and both of them are properly classed among the preventable diseases, but unfortu3-B. or H. nately we have not for their prevention any such specific as Vacci nation has proven to be for Small Pox. Reliance must then be placed upon the less direct preventative measures by which we may reasonably hope to stay their progress. The State Board of Health desires to impress the importance of this matter upon our citizens, and presents the following Sanitary Rules, by the observance of which the spread of these diseases may be largely prevented. The contagious character of SCARLET FEVER is little less marked than that of Small Pox, and like it, may be induced not only by contact with, or coming into the presence of, those who have the disease, but it may be retained in and conveyed by various articles which have been subjected to the infected atmosphere. In numerous instances bedding or clothing, long disused, have been the means of communicating the disease. In like manner the infection may be retained indefinitely in books, carpets, wall paper or furniture. In these various ways the disease may be conveyed and communicated under circumstances otherwise inexplicable. The contagious character of the disease does not cease with its active symptons, but is perhaps peculiarly great during the period when the old skin is being thrown off, minute particles of which may adhere to the clothing of the most casual visitor, and be thus conveyed directly from the sick to the well. To a great extent this danger may be lessened, and the comfort of the patient at the same time promoted, by thoroughly and frequently anointing the whole body, including the scalp, with some fatty substance, such as lard or olive oil, which mechanically imprisons the particles of skin as they separate. Scarletina, Scarlet Rash, Canker Rash and Rash Fever are simply other names for Scarlet Fever, and there is no safety in the popular belief that they are not dangerous. No form of Scarlet Fever is free from danger, and the most severe forms of the disease may follow exposure to the mildest. ISOLATION. No pains therefore should be spared to prevent communication with a person sick with Scarlet Fever, but such person should be at once confined to a well ventilated room, the most remote from family occupancy (an upper room, if possible), from which should be removed all carpets, rugs and unnecessary furniture of every kind, and especially all kinds of woolen. There should be absolutely no visitors to this room except the physician and necessary attendants, and this isolation of the sick person should continue until the roughness of the skin, due to its peeling off, shall have disappeared. During the sickness, some disinfecting solution should be kept constantly in the room (that recommended by the New York Board of Health is composed of eight ounces of sulphate of zinc, three ounces of Carbolic acid and three gallons of water), in which al infected or soiled clothing from the patient should first be soaked, and then boiled for at least an hour, and it is recommended that nurses wear only such clothing as can be thus purified. All infected clothing should be kept separate from other clothing, and washed by itself. It is better if bits of rags which can be burned, be used in place of handkerchiefs in the sick room. All discharges from the patient's body should first be covered with the disinfecting solution, then instantly removed from the house, and if possible buried. Throughout the sickness an abundant supply of fresh air should be admitted to the room, a direct draft upon the patient being avoided. DISINFECTION. At the close of the sickness (after the removal of the patient) the room ought to be thoroughly cleansed as after Small Pox, first by burning sulphur in it, two or three pounds being placed in a safe iron vessel over a tub of water to guard against fire, and ignited, the doors, windows and chimney flues being first carefully closed. The room should remain closed for several hours, after which thorough ventilation, scrubbing the floor and woodwork with the disinfecting solution, whitewashing and re-papering the walls will fit the room for re-habitation. Rooms may also be disinfected by chlorine gas, which is rapidly generated by pouring muriatic acid on chloride of lime. A pint of the acid being sufficient for four or five pounds of the lime, which should first be placed in a wooden or earthen vessel and moistened with water. During this process, the room should be closed as for the sulphur fumigation, and during either process, articles to be disinfected should be as much as possible so sus pended or spread out as to be most fully exposed to the vapor. Heat will also it is believed effectually destroy the poison germ, and articles may be disinfected by being placed in an oven and subjecting them to a temperature which shall be considerably above that of boiling water. "In case of death, the funeral service should be strictly private and the corpse should not be exposed to view," a neglect of which humane precaution has in numerous instances cost the lives of sympathizing friends. To carry out such measures thoroughly, says Dr. Aitken, "requires wisdom and self-denial on the part of relatives and friends, but if it were possible to begin to-morrow and to carry them out in every case, Scarlet Fever would have ceased to exist at the end of two months, and it is possible or even probable that it would never return." If it be not possible to carry them out fully, it is possible so to approximate thereto, as to save many of the lives of our dear ones. DIPHTHERIA. The contagion of diphtheria is not so strongly marked as that of scarlet fever, yet sufficiently so to call for exercise of very great care. The disease is spread by the exhalations of the sick poison ing the air of the sick room, or by the direct contact of the diphtheria exudation, which may adhere to infected articles, or it may be communicated by spitting, sneezing or coughing, and not infrequently in the act of kissing one who has a simple sore throat which is scarcely noticed, may, communicate a virulent diphtheria to another. The disease, usually spread in some of these ways, may also with less certainty be spread by infected clothing, or furniture or rooms, to which the poison sometimes clings with great tenacity and for a long time. To check this so frequently fatal disease, the same system of ISOLATION AND DISINFECTION recommended for scarlet fever is applicable and should be rigidly enforced, and during the prevalence of the disease, no sore throat, however apparently trivial, should be neglected. Let the family physician at once be consulted. Finally, CLEANLINESS AND PURITY OF AIR ARE THE DEADLY ENEMIES OF ALL CONTAGION. Secure these for your children, with pure water, wholesome food and comfortable clothing. Remove from cellars and yards and alleys every kind and source of filth; see that drains and cesspools are in perfect repair; that there be no leakage of foul gases about your premises, and you will do very much to keep from your homes not only scarlet fever and diphtheria, but diseases of every kind whether it be that "pestilence which walketh in darkness "destruction which wasteth at noon day." By order of the Wisconsin State Board of Health. J. T. REEVE, M. D., or that Secretary. P. S.-Health Officers or others desiring copies of this circular, or of one previously issued by the Board on Small Pox, may obtain then in any desired quantity by addressing the Secretary. The plain and practical rules for THE TREATMENT OF THE APPARENTLY DROWNED, Prepared and published by the Michigan State Board of Health, having been approved by this Board, the following circular was issued in August last. This circular is simply a reprint of the issue of the Michigan State Board of Health with the exception that the two latter paragraphs have been added. Two editions of this circular were printed, one large for posting in public places, and one of convenient size to insert into ordinary letters. Copies of this circular have been sent to the health officers of every town in the state, for distribution to physicians. Packages of them have also been sent to all special correspondents, and large numbers have been sent to other parties. all TREATMENT OF THE DROWNED. Two things to be done: Restore breathing; res toreanimal heat. RULE 1.- Remove obstructions to breathing. Instantly loosen or cut apart all neck and waist bands; turn the pa tient on his face, with the head down hill; stand astride the hips with your! face towards his head, and, locking your fingers together under his belly, raise the body as high as you can without lifting the forehead off the ground (Fig. 1), and give the body a smart jerk to remove mucus from the throat and water from the windpipe; hold the body suspended long enough to slowly count one, two, three, four, five, repeating the jerk more gently two or three times. RULE 2. Place the patient on the ground face downward, and maintaining all the while your position astride the body, grasp the points of the shoulders by the clothing, or, if the body is naked, thrust your fingers into the armpits, clasping the thumbs over the points of the shoulders, and raise the chest as high as you can, (Fig. 2) without lifting the head quite off the ground, and hold it long enough to slowly count ONE, TWO, THREE. Replace him on the ground, with his forehead on his flexed arm, the neck straightened out, and the mouth and nose free. Place your elbows against your knees and your hands upon the sides of his chest (Fig. 3) over the lower ribs and press downward and inward with increasing force long enough to slowly count one, two. Then suddenly |