388 SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



fastened to the window that little air can enter the room. 

 In the lower part is an opening through which the head may 

 pass into the inclosure which receives the air through the 

 window. By this means the sleeper obtains a constant supply 

 of fresh air for breathing, while his body is not cooled thereby. 

 A serviceable home-made tent may be constructed out of 

 stiff wire and canvas. This need be used only in the colder 

 months, as at other times the windows can be kept wide 

 open without any discomfort. 



Prevention of tuberculosis. Care of sputum. The pre- 

 vention of tuberculosis must look in the first place to the 

 proper supervision of those who already have the disease. 

 As the sputum of these patients is the chief means by which 

 the disease is spread, the first care must be the proper dis- 

 posal of this sputum. This should be deposited either in 

 paper napkins, which should be burned, or else in covered 

 metal cups which contain some chemical to kill bacteria. 

 The bacteria are not carried in the breath of the patient. 

 A careful patient is not dangerous to those with whom he 

 associates. A tuberculous person should never expectorate 

 in public places, where the sputum may become a source of 

 danger to the public. As people often have the disease 

 and do not know it, the general rule should be followed by 

 every one not to expectorate in public places. The signs 

 so frequently seen prohibiting expectoration are designed to 

 prevent the transmission of tuberculosis through the ex- 

 pectoration of careless and thoughtless persons. 



Protection of food. The bacteria in meat may be killed 

 by a thorough cooking. Those in milk may be destroyed 

 by pasteurizing as previously described on page 382. The 

 presence of tuberculosis in cattle may be detected by what 

 is known as the tuberculin test. There are laws regulating 

 to some extent the kind of cattle that may be kept by dairy- 

 men, and sold as meat, and where these laws are rigidly en- 

 forced, the public is partially protected against this danger. 



