92 BACTERIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



the urine, when tuberculosis of the genito-urinary 

 tract is present. 



In the infectious diseases, as diphtheria, smallpox, 

 scarlet fever, etc., the duration of the disease is short, 

 and isolation is compulsory; but isolation in cases 

 of tuberculosis has never been compulsory in any 

 state, and as the duration of the disease may be 

 for many months and sometimes years, it is easy to 

 understand the ready dissemination and the fright- 

 ful extent of tuberculous infections. 



With intelligent patients of cleanly habits, it is 

 easy to impress upon them how they may control the 

 spread of the disease by the observation of a few 

 simple details, but with the ignorant and persons 

 who are unacquainted with the rudiments of clean- 

 liness, it is an almost hopeless task to expect them 

 to respond to instruction upon these points. The 

 visiting nurses in all large cities, who for years have 

 carried on a systematic campaign of instruction in 

 the tenements, make extremely discouraging reports 

 of the success of their efforts. 



If the phthisis patient can be persuaded to use the 

 cheap paper sputum cup, which can be burned, and 

 will use paper napkins or old cloths, which can also 

 be burned, while he is away from home, he can elimi- 

 nate the chief source of danger; but when such a 



