MICRO-ORGANISMS IN VARIOUS DISEASES. 191 



(c) Entry: By mouth and nose through air, or by 



mouth through contaminated foods or 

 objects; only the air around the patient 

 is dangerous, which is made infectious 

 through coughing, sneezing, and careless 

 disposal of secretions from infected por- 

 tion; through wounds uncommon. 



(d) Exit: Discharges from nose, mouth, pharynx 



and larynx; also from eye and vulva if 

 disease situated there. 



(e) Contracted: Is highly contagious, spread by 



contact with the sick chiefly, ito a less 

 extent through fomites; kissing, handker- 

 chiefs, towels, toys, etc., may all convey 

 the infection. 



(f) Disinfection: Boiling water kills the diphtheria 



bacillus at once; direct sun-light is also 

 effective in about an hour ; disinfect sputum, 

 nasal discharge, linens, utensils, etc., with 

 boiling water, or with tricresol (2 per cent), 

 formalin (5 per cent), carbolic acid (5 per 

 cent) ; wipe all surfaces in room (including 

 floor) with bichloride of mercury (i-iooo) 

 daily, fumigate with sulphur or formalde- 

 hyde. 



(g) Prophylaxis: Isolation of sick, no matter how 



slight the infection, since there is no ques- 

 tion that diphtheria is spread by the mild 



