Progress and Achievements of the Colored People: Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success
John Stuart Mill · en
A person who has had any infectious disease and has been thoroughly
disinfected, with his clothes, may be allowed to mix freely with his
fellows, in school, for instance, after the following periods. Scarlet
fever: Not less than eight weeks from the appearance of the rash,
provided peeling has completely ceased, and there be no sore throat. Six
weeks is not enough, as there are cases of direct infection after seven
weeks when all symptoms have entirely disappeared. Measles and German
measles: In three weeks, provided all peeling and coughing have ceased.
Smallpox and chickenpox: A fortnight after the last scab has fallen off;
the hair, in case of smallpox, having been cut short and scrubbed with
carbolic soap or soft soap. Mumps: Four weeks from the attack if all
swelling has disappeared. Whooping-cough: Six weeks from recognition of
the whoop if the cough has entirely lost its spasmodic character, or
four weeks if all cough whatever has ceased. Diphtheria: In a month if
convalescence be complete, there being no trace of sore throat or
discharge from the nose, eyes, etc. Ringworm: When the whole scalp,
carefully examined in a good light, shows no stumpy broken hairs or
scaly patches.
It has been very difficult to impress upon communities and individuals
the extreme importance of strict obedience to the foregoing rules. There
is an unfortunate tendency in too many instances for households to fail
in guarding their neighbors from contact with their own members who are
convalescing from disease. Even such common and simple diseases as
whooping-cough, chickenpox, mumps and others that are considered
especially to belong to children, frequently prove fatal to those who
are susceptible to them, and it is truly wicked to permit by
carelessness such an infection to reach a school or elsewhere where
weaker children may suffer as a result.
COMMON SENSE IN THE SICK ROOM
Ventilation, Light, Temperature and Furnishings—Care of the Patient—His
Temperature and Pulse—Bed Sores—The Characteristics of Fever—Simple
Household Remedies—What to Put in a Remedy Cupboard—How to Keep the Baby
Well
To every living person air must be furnished every moment if life is to
be preserved. The vital element of the air is oxygen gas, the
life-giving medium, and this is diluted with nitrogen, because the
oxygen itself, breathed alone, would be too stimulating for our lungs.
In the delicate cells of the lungs the air we have inhaled gives up its
oxygen to the blood, thus purifying it, and receives in turn carbonic
acid gas and water, foul with waste matter, which the blood has absorbed
during its passage through the body and which we now exhale. The blood
is red when it leaves the heart, pure. It returns to the heart purple
from the impurities it has picked up, and by the oxygen is once more
changed to red.