which will increase the danger of contagion:
_Fear._—Almost in every case, if a person is brought in sudden
contact with the remains of one who has died of either cholera, small
pox, yellow fever, or any of those terrible epidemic and contagious
diseases which will in a few weeks decimate a populous city, the
feeling will be one of repulsive horror; in some this feeling will
amount to absolute fear, which will show itself in the dilated pupil,
the bleached countenance, and the momentous forebodings which assail
the mind and predispose the system to the attacks of the disease. In
this case, the mind influences the body to such an extent that the
disease has already fastened itself upon the system, before the first
symptoms are felt.
Another and potent cause of danger is that which proceeds from
a debilitated condition of the system, the causes of which are
numerous: over-exertion of either the body or the mind; labor carried
on incessantly without due regard to relaxation; imperfect nutrition,
or long fast, are all causes which will tend to render the system
more vulnerable to the aggressions of sickness.
But the most pernicious and fatal of all mistakes, is that of
using stimulants to ward off the effects of contagion. How many
of our professionals and their assistants have given way to the
use of ardent spirits, under the delusion that it was absolutely
necessary, to avoid the noxious effects of infectious diseases. It
is a well authenticated fact, and one worthy of notice, that persons
who generally indulge in the use of spirituous liquors, even in a
moderate quantity, are those who are first attacked by epidemic or
contagious diseases, and who almost always fall victims to it. Take,
for instance, the case of a surgeon about to perform a dangerous
operation. His first inquiry will be about the habits of the patient;
he knows well enough that a man addicted to drink will not bear up
under the trial.
The only means we have to protect ourselves from the dangers of
infection from dead bodies are, first, a perfect ventilation of the
room where the remains lie, so as to obviate the bad tendency which
the air of the death-chamber might have upon the system. Attention
must also be paid to the diet; the food eaten should be generous and
nutritious, and it is proper to take a _small quantity_ of wine at a
time when the body and mind are debilitated by long and exhaustive
manipulation of the dead, but avoid all excess of fluids or solids.
_Temperance is strictly necessary._
Wounds received while handling a corpse should not be neglected;
if a simple abrasion, it should be covered; if pricked, the liquid
muriate of ammonia or caustic potass are recommended to be applied
as cauteries. These are the early measures to be pursued; but after
absorption has taken place, a different course must be practised,
and a good physician consulted without delay. The garments ordinarily
worn should never be brought into direct contact with the remains of
a person tainted with some infectious disease.
But it is to the hands we must pay particular attention. Gangrenous
or syphilitic sores may be found on a subject, in which case extreme
caution must be exerted; the hands should be first well rubbed with
lard or sweet oil mixed with carbolate of camphor, and thoroughly
washed after the handling of the body is over; then the hands should
be well soaked in chlorinated soda (Labarraque solution), as the
disinfecting properties of chlorine will be found here particularly
useful.
If the above suggestions are faithfully followed, they will be
found to greatly diminish the dangers attending the handling of the
dead—dangers which can never be entirely avoided.