34 PHARMACEUTICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



disinfection after postmortem and sterilization of the dead body. In all 

 cases, whether the patient dies or recovers, the entire sick room, including 

 bed, chairs, bedding, etc., must be thoroughly disinfected. The methods 

 of procedure may be outlined as follows: 



a. Disinfection of Excreta. To disinfect dejecta, urine and sputum, a 

 4 per cent, solution of chloride of lime or a 20 per cent, solution of milk of 

 lime will be found very efficient, using amounts of the disinfectants equal 

 to the bulk of the excreta to be disinfected, mixing well and allowing to 

 stand for one hour. The disinfectants are first placed in the veesels 

 intended to receive the excreta, more being added afterward if it is thought 

 desirable. If sputa and other excreta are received upon napkins or other 

 cloth, these should be burnt at once, or if that is not convenient they may 

 be placed (entirely immersed) in the disinfectant. For tuberculous 

 sputum the chloride of lime is best. Spit cups should be kept two-thirds 

 full of the 4 per cent, soluton. Paper spit cups are to be destroyed by 

 burning as soon as possible. 



Sulphate of copper (5 to 10 per cent, solution), or carbo-hydrochloric 

 acid solution (5 per cent, each of phenol and hydrochloric acid) may be 

 used in place of the chloride of lime and milk of lime. Bichloride of 

 mercury and phenol (without the hydrochloric acid) are not very satis- 

 factory for disinfecting excreta because of the coagulating effects upon 

 albuminous matter. Liquor cres. comp. U. S. P., lysol and tricresol (2-2.5 

 per cent, solutions) may be used. Weak disinfectants or untried patent 

 or proprietary disinfectants should never be used for above purposes. 

 For example, permanganate of potassium, boric acid, borax, glycothy- 

 moline, borol, etc., would be valueless as disinfectants for excreta. 



b. Disinfection of Patient. This includes cleaning the body surface 

 with soap and water, with 50 to 70 per cent, alcohol, washing with i to 

 2.5 per cent, solutions of phenol, cres. comp., lysol or creolin, when so 

 ordered by the attending physician. Bichloride of mercury (1-2000 to 

 i-iooo) may be used for skin disinfection. A saturated solution of boric 

 acid, normal salt solution or a i-iooo solution of permanganate of potas- 

 sium may be used as a wash or irrigation for non-infected wounds and 

 cuts, etc., but not for ulcers, abscesses, etc. 



Irritating disinfectants should not, for very obvious reasons, be used. 

 In every case the mode of procedure in the disinfection of the patient 

 will be outlined by the attending physician. 



Nurses, attendants and physicians must observe the necessary pre- 

 cautions against becoming disseminators of the infection and must resort 

 to certain methods of self disinfection after each visit to the patient, as in 

 small-pox, plague, diphtheria and other communicable diseases. 



