PUBLIC HYGIENE AND SANITATION 41 1 



deaths as scarlet fever. Every effort should be made to 

 prevent children from taking any of these diseases. 



Influenza, or the grippe, is a contagious disease, and it is 

 probable that ordinary cases of "cold" and sore throat are 

 also mildly contagious. Persons with colds should keep 

 alone as much as possible, and while in the house they 

 should remain in a well-ventilated room. In cases of 

 typhoid fever and consumption the sick persons may usually 

 be allowed to associate with other persons if all discharges 

 from the sick persons' bodies are destroyed. 



716. Fumigation and disinfection. After every case of con- 

 tagious or infectious disease all infected rooms and articles should be 

 freed from bacteria. The best method of getting rid of bacteria is by 

 scrubbing, washing, and airing, as is done in a thorough housecleaning. 

 To the wash water that is used in the room some antiseptic should be 

 added, such as a tablespoonful of formalin to each quart of water. In 

 addition to the cleaning it is well to fumigate the house with some 

 antiseptic gas. Fumigating candles of sulphur or formaldehyde may be 

 bought at drug stores. In order to do any good a large quantity of the 

 fumigating material should be used while the room is damp, and with 

 all doors and windows tightly closed. Fumigation which does not kill 

 the flies in the room is of no value in killing bacteria, no matter how 

 bad the gas may smell. 



717. House flies. A common carrier of disease is the 

 /house fly. Alighting on diseased persons and infected ex- 

 cretions, they carry bacteria on their legs and bodies and 

 infect persons and food on which they next alight. They 



1 may carry diphtheria and typhoid fever to well persons and 

 may cause babies to have intestinal troubles. In all cases 

 of infectious disease flies should be kept out of the room and 

 away from all excretions that come from the sick persons. 



House flies hatch from eggs which are laid in decaying substances, 

 especially in stable manure. The young flies are white and worm-like, 

 and are called maggots. In about a week they change to brown. 



