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{
    "localId": "24325425",
    "label": "Report S: Hints for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, in Camps, Transports, and Hospitals",
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    "id": "24325425",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24325425",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Report S: Hints for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, in Camps, Transports, and Hospitals",
    "description": "This item is an essay that provides advice regarding the control and prevention of infectious diseases in camps, transports, and hospitals. Diseases referred to include smallpox, measles, typhus fever, cholera, and yellow fever.",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24325425",
    "collections": [
        "Records of the American National Red Cross",
        "Reports, Essays, and Other Issuances"
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    "naId": 24325425,
    "levelOfDescription": "item",
    "productionDates": [
        {
            "logicalDate": "1863-01-01",
            "year": 1863
        }
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{
    "seq": 17,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "34\n35\nIt should be borne in mind that, if the vapor of bromine comes in\ncule of the virus, and this is to be effected by means of the pipette\ncontact with the vapor of water, hydro-bromic acid is formed; there-\nsyringe, the pointed stick, the scissors, and the solution, for local appli-\nfore, when there is much of the vapor of water disengaged in the apart-\ncations; and by its pungent and volatile vapors in wards and other in-\nment, the quantity of the vapor of bromine must be correspondingly\nfected places. This disinfectant certainly promises to be a great boon to\nincreased.\nour military hospitals.\n2. Topical Application of the Vapor.- piece of dry lint is to be\nplaced over the diseased part; over this is to be placed another piece of\nPermanganate of Potassa.-A special order from the Medical Bureau\nlint, moistened with the solution of bromine over this, a third piece spread\nat Washington Circular, No. 12], calls the attention of medical officers\nwith simple cerate; the whole to be covered with oiled silk and bandage,\nso arranged as to retain the vapor in contact with the diseased surface\nto \" the virtues of permanganate of potassa as a disinfectant and deodo-\nas long as possible. The solution is to be removed as often as it becomes\nrizer.' This is a soluble substance peculiarly convenient of application\nexhausted by evaporation.\nand remarkably certain and efficient in its effects as a disinfectant. Its\n3. The Solution, in Substance, as a direct Application, in Hospital Gan-\nemployment as a deodorizer and prophylactic is limited mainly to topical\ngrene, Diphtheria, Gangrene of the Tongue, and other diseases of this\napplications, to gangrenous parts or putrescent materials, and to general\nnature: -The parts are first to be dried by the application of charpie;\neffect opon the atmosphere of contaminated apartments, by means of\nthen the sloughs, if thick, should be trimmed out with forceps and scis-\nsors as much as possible, for the thinner the slough the more effective\nevaporating cloths saturated with a strong solution of the permanganate.\nis the remedy. The parts having again been dried, the solution is ap-\nThe oxidizing and antiseptic effects of the permanganate of potassa upon\nplied by means of a mop, or a pointed stick of wood, in quantity sufficient\norganic and putrescent matter are remarkable. It is the most sensitive\nto saturate the sloughs. If the sloughs undermine the skin, or dip down\ntest for the presence of organic matter, which it oxidizes with won-\ninto intermuscular spaces, the solution must be made to follow, with the\nderful facility. [See remarks upon this subject in Hammond's Hygiene.]\npointed stick, or by means of a glass syringe.\nIf the application has been effectual, all odor from the diseased surface\nAs this is an expensive and delicate substance, it is to be employed\nceases, and the sloughs become somewhat hardened. The remedy should\neconomically, upon saturated cloths or in dilute solutions upon plates.\nbe re-applied every second hour, as long as any odor of putrefaction is\nFor purifying offensive water for purposes of beverage, etc., a standard\npresent, or as long as the sloughs appear to be diffluent. It is not always\nsolution should be dropped into the vessel of water, until the tinge of the\nnecessary, especially when the sloughs are diffluent and thin, to use the\nsolution in its full strength; it may be weakened by the addition of water,\npermanganate begins to appear. The rapid and effectual oxidation of\nas the disease subsides.\nthe organic (putrid) elements of impure water and other substances,\nThe points to be especially attended to, in the use of the solution of\neven of the atmosphere itself, when brought in contact with solutions of\nbromine, are two: 1. The solution should be applied in strength and\nthis salt, and the consequent and almost instant deodorization of such\nfrequency sufficient for the impregnation of the whole of the sloughs ;\n2. To secure this end, the application should be made by the surgeon him-\nimpurities, render this disinfectant of priceless value for practical pur-\nself, and never be trusted to a nurse. If the sloughs are thick and cannot\nposes. And as all preparations of manganese are therapeutically tonic,\nwell be trimmed, the bromine may be introduced into the thickness of\nprobably the minute quantities of this salt that would be taken in drink-\nthe slough by means of a hypodermic syringe.\ning the water purified as above described, would only act beneficially.\nAfter the topical application of the solution, the parts, when so situated\nas to render it practicable, should be subjected to the influence of the\n\" Condy's Disinfectant,\" Darby's Fluid,\" and all the vaunted prepara-\nvapor. (See par. 1.)\ntions of Ozonized water,' etc., are but solutions of permanganates.\nSurgeons will do well to bear in mind that bromine is a new remedy\nThe salts are cheaper and more reliable than such nostrums, and are\nfor the purposes indicated above. The directions for its use, given here,\nnow supplied by all medical purveyors in the army.\nare those followed in the military hospitals of is city : it may be found\nadvisable to modify them as experience with the remedy accumulates.\nCoal-tar Compounds-Carbolates.- carbolate of lime has been\nIt is, therefore, earnestly recommended that the subject be studied dili-\ngently, that the effects of the remedy be carefully watched, and that the\nemployed to some extent in our camps and hospitals. McDougall's\napplication be varied as new facts are developed in its use.\npowder consists of carbolate of lime, sulphite of lime, quick-lime, etc.\nThe Ridgewood disinfectant consists of carbolic acid, proto-chloride of\nThe investigation of the evidences respecting the antiseptic and prophy-\niron, etc., combined with fullers' earth. Either of these, which are fur-\nlactic powers of this new disinfectant has reasonably confirmed the\nnished by the medical purveyors, appear to be quite as valuable as the\nopinion of its great utility. But to secure its beneficial effects, its ap-\nmore expensive article of M. M. Corné and Demeaux's, which is used at\nplication should be made with proper care and thoroughness. It claims\nthe Imperial Camp at Châlons, and was found highly serviceable by Bar-\nto arrest the destructive progress of gangrene, erysipelas, etc., and utter-\nron Larrey, after the great battles of the late Italian campaign. Coal tar,\nly to destroy the personal and the diffused virus of such maladies. To\nin almost any form, is available for disinfecting sewers, etc., and in the\naccomplish this effectually, the bromine must be applied to every mole-"
}