114 THE STORY OF THE BACTERIA. 



In the interests of health the fitting of houses 

 with simpler furniture or less heavy hangings 

 and fixed carpets is greatly to be desired. 



The regulation of the sick-room, and its 

 communication with the rest of the house, is a 

 matter on which the advice of the physician 

 should be sought. First and foremost should 

 stand the systematic and careful destruction of 

 the infectious material in all discharges of what- 

 ever sort from diseased persons, by burning or 

 by the proper disinfecting solutions such as five 

 per cent, carbolic acid. In this solution the dis- 

 charges should be allowed to soak for several 

 hours before they are thrown into the sewer or 

 otherwise disposed of. As to the cleansing o{ 

 rooms after their occupancy by persons who 

 have suffered from bacterial diseases, direc- 

 tions should be obtained from the physician or 

 from the health authorities. 



The danger of infection with the germ of 

 tuberculosis through the air is very widespread, 

 because consumptive persons are often for long 

 periods not confined to their houses, or rooms, 

 or beds, but may be more or less active centres 

 of infection by mingling with the well in all the 



