The Preservation of Health 297 



A compound of mercury, called corrosive sublimate, is a 

 most efficacious and powerful germicide, but is exceedingly 

 poisonous and can be bought only under restrictions. 



Carbolic acid, chloride of lime, permanganate of potash, 

 sulphur, formaldehyde (formalin), and various preparations 

 made from zinc, iron, and petroleum are the disinfectants 

 which are most widely used at the present time. 



There are also numerous varieties of commercial disinfect- 

 ants now in popular use which the manufacturers claim to 

 be efficient germicides. 



The Prevention and Restriction of Dangerous Communicable Diseases. 



The following directions for the prevention and restriction of danger- 

 ous communicable diseases are issued by the Michigan Board of 

 Health for the use of teachers of that state in giving instructions to 

 the children in the schools. 



Consumption is now known to be a communicable disease. It is 

 spread by the dust of dried sputa, and also by milk and meat of 

 tuberculous animals. The most important measure for the restric- 

 tion of consumption is the disinfection or destruction of all sputa 

 of every consumptive person. 



It is best that all persons who have a cough should carry small 

 pieces of cloth (each just large enough properly to receive one 

 sputum) and paraffined paper envelopes or wrappers in which the 

 cloth, as soon as once used, may be put and securely enclosed, and, 

 with its envelope, burned on the first opportunity. These pieces of 

 cloth must not be carried loose in the pocket and allowed to dry after 

 being used. 



Pneumonia is spread by a germ which is in the sputum of those 

 who have the disease. Care should always be taken to destroy or 

 disinfect all sputa of those who have pneumonia. 



Influenza, la grippe, or plain "grip," is now believed to be spread 

 by a germ which finds its way from infected handkerchiefs and other 

 articles and places into the nose, throat, and air passages of persons 

 susceptible to this disease. 



