Sins against the laws of health : illustrated by the vital statistics of the Crosshill District : being a lecture delivered on behalf of the library of the Crosshill Young Men's Christian Association, 29th April, 1880 / by Eben. Duncan.

  • Duncan, Eben.
Date:
1880
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sins against the laws of health : illustrated by the vital statistics of the Crosshill District : being a lecture delivered on behalf of the library of the Crosshill Young Men's Christian Association, 29th April, 1880 / by Eben. Duncan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Like measles, this disease is infectious from the very beginniiip, wliile tlie early symptoms are those of a common cold; and this is an additional reason why children suffering from a cough should be excluded from school. It is important in maiiv cases that the children should get the benefit of tlie open air, but they should always be under the charge of some one whose duty it should be to prevent them from poisoning tlie children of others. The next disease on my list is diphtheria. When it comes in a malignant form, diphtlieria is a very terrible disease, but, for- tunately, it is not nearly so infectious as any of the other zymotic of Avhieh 1 have spoken. AVhen the o])artment is kept thoroughly ventilated and clean, there is really no risk to those who are not closely in attendance. But the nurse and the physician who are expo.'cd to danger of having the contagious ])articles from the throat coughed upon them during the administration of i-emcdies, are sometimes infected in this manner. In its milder forms it is a much more common disease than peoj)le suppose, and I meet with it very frequently in tliis parish. I would advise you, in any case of sore throat which occurs in your family, however trivial it appeai-s to bo, to examine the interior of the throat, and if you see any white patches you sliould immediately isolate the ])atient and send for your doctor. Use rags (which may be burned) instead of pocket handkerchiefs, and take care that no other person uses the spoons or dishes of the patient until they are disinfected. 1 think it f>rudent not to speak to-night about typhoid ftwer, because it .would occupy us too long, and I have already published the history of the Crosshill epidemic of 1875. Since that time a large number of epidemics of typhoid fever have been placed on record, several of which have occurred in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. I think 1 am correct when I say that the majority of these epidemics have been traced to mUJ^ contaminated by the excreta of tyj)hoid fever patients. Alany of yon know the exer- tions I have made in this neighbourhood to get people interested in securing a pure milk supply for this community. J believe that in this matter I have already done some good, hut there is great need for further exertion. J cannot compress into a corner of this lecture any adequate statement of the lamentable sanitary defects of our farms and dairies. I shall take some other oppor- tunity of exposing these things. Meantime, 1 can say, as the result of my enquiries during the bust five years, that adulterated, con- taminated, and disea.sed milk does more to destroy our infant population, and to spread contagions disetvses, than any other cavise that can be named. 1 sliall now pass on to notice briefly the chiss of disease which causes the greatest amount of death in this, as in every other community in the country—tubercular diseases. I jtass over non-tubercular inflammatory diseases of the lungs, as I passed