40 The Bulletin. 



3. Provide in the sick-room a wooden tub one-third full of either of the three 

 last-named solutions, and drop therein as soon as removed everything in the 

 way of body or bed-clothing, handkerchiefs, towels, etc., that have come in con- 

 tact with the patient, and keep them submerged until they can be boiled, 

 washed and dried in the sun. 



4. All remnants of food that may for any reason be carried into the sick- 

 room must be burned. 



5. The nurse should wash her hands and dip them into one of the solutions, 

 preferably corrosive sublimate, after every "changing*' of the patient. She 

 should never draw water from the family well unless a pump is used. In case 

 it should be absolutely necessary she should disinfect her hands as above 

 before doing so. 



6. The soiled linen of the patient should never be washed at or near the 

 well or spring. The greatest care should be observed to prevent the drainage 

 or seepage through the soil into the well or spring from accumulations of filth 

 of all kinds. As soon as a case of typhoid fever appears in a family all drink- 

 ing-water should be boiled until a report on the same can be obtained from the 

 State Biologist, the family physician making application to the Secretary of 

 the State Board of Health for permit and sterilized bottle. 



7. As the germ is present in the intestine in the preliminary stages and for 

 several weeks after convalescence is established and the patient practically 

 well, extra care of surface privies should be observed. Every evacuation 

 should be immediately and completely covered with lime or dry powdered 

 earth. This should be a routine practice at all times. Access of fowls should 

 be provided against. 



8. As recent observations show the disease to be transmitted by personal 

 contact, all persons should be excluded from the sick-room except those neces- 

 sary to the proper care of the patient. After recovery or death the room and 

 its contents should be thoroughly disinfected as after any other communicable 

 disease. 



Summary. — Prompt disinfection of all discharges from the body of the 

 patient ; protection of the same against flies ; special care as to the drinking- 

 water; scrupulous cleanliness in every respect; avoidance of unnecessary con- 

 tact ; general disinfection at end of case. 



Like typhoid fever, consumption is also caused by a germ, and the dis- 

 ease can never originate without this germ. If we will put into practice the 

 knowledge which we have we can. to a very large extent, do away with the 

 terrific annual loss from consumption. 



The germ is largely given off by the patient through the sputum, and is 

 largely carried by the wind and by flies. The following quotations from the 

 North Carolina Bulletin leaflet are some of the chief rules for the protection 

 of our people from tuberculosis : 



"The sputum or spit of a consumptive should always be destroyed before 

 it can dry and assume the form of dust. Indoors he should spit directly 

 into the open fire, if there be one, or into a spittoon or spitcup containing 

 some disinfectant, 5 per cent carbolic acid, 2 per cent formaldehyde or one- 

 to-two-thousand corrosive sublimate. Plain water would be much better than 

 nothing, as it would keep the sputum moist and for so long a time in- 

 nocuous. The contents of the spittoon should be burned or buried and the 

 vessel scalded with boiling water. Away from home, especially in public 

 places of all kinds, he should religiously abstain from spitting on the floor 

 or the sidewalk. He should always use some form of pocket spittoon, of 

 which there are many varieties that can be obtained at a trifling cost, or ex- 

 pectorate upon pieces of rag or soft paper, which should be kept wrapped up 

 in paraffin paper or other impervious material until they are burned. 



"A consumptive should never cough, sneeze, talk loudly or laugh towards 

 any one near at hand, but turn away his face, or hold his handkerchief in 

 front of his mouth. 



"No consumptive should ever be kissed upon the lips — better not at all. 

 Regard for the safety of his dear ones ought to make him refuse absolutely 

 to be kissed. 



