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experience of many learned and practical physicians, we have no reason to
doubt that the proper use of certain agents, known as disinfectants, will
destroy the infection which may be contained in articles of clothing, bedding,
rooms, sewer gases, and the excreta of patients suffering from contagious
disease. "We are, nevertheless, bound to use, to the best of our ability, such
means as are known to us, whereby the spreading of contagious diseases will
be prevented. Notwithstanding that our knowledge is limited, as to the
causes of epidemic diseases, and that we are unable to account for the rise,
culmination, and decline of epidemic diseases, and cannot assert with confidence
that any one particular agent will effectually destroy contagious
matter, we may probably prevent the development of typhoid fever and
other epidemic diseases, by the adoption of the following means :—
Firstly—By the practice of cleanliness in our houses and persons.
Secondly—By efficient ventilation in our houses, and especially in our bedrooms.
Thirdly—By complete drainage, whereby all refuse matter in a fluid
state shall be immediately carried away from our habitations. The drains
should be so constructed as to prevent the noxious gases which they contain
from making their way into our houses. I may here observe, that unless
the public sewers, and house drains which communicate with them, be
properly constructed, they may be the means of diffusing the germs of disease,
by allowing their contents to soak into the ground, and so contaminate
the sources of the water supply; and they may also, through their imperfect
construction, diffuse their poisonous emanations through the atmosphere, and
thus spread disease among the people. Fourthly—By the Local Boards causing
all the streets to be cleansed daily. This should be done uniformly throughout
the Metropolis. Fifthly—By the prompt removal of all nuisances from
the vicinity of dwelling houses. Sixthly—By the use of pure drinking
water; and, lastly, by so observing the laws of health, as regards the avoiding
of overcrowding, by temperance, by proper food, by warm clothing, by
exercise in the open air, &c., that the body may be preserved in health,
and thereby enabling it to a great extent to resist disease. As the poor
cannot, by means of their poverty, carry out in their persons all that is
above stated as being necessary to be done to preserve the body in health,
it may be expected that they will suffer more from the ravages of an epidemic
disease than their richer brethren. I will conclude this part of the
subject by reiterating the aphorism, that " Prevention is better than cure
and that it will be found in every respect more conducive to the welfare of
the people to oppose the attack of an epidemic disease by adopting such
sanitary means as will prevent the contamination of the water supply, and
the pollution of the air, and to preserve the soil in the vicinity of human
dwellings from all refuse matter and filth. I say that it would be better to
do these things, and not rely on the value of any disinfectant to stay the
ravages of disease when it has obtained admission into the houses of the
people.