174 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 



from which the cases are reported. The inspector visits the ad- 

 dress given, and, if the patient is living, leaves a circular of in- 

 formation and gives verbal instruction to the friends about the 

 danger of infection and the care of the sputum. If the address 

 is that of a dead patient, or if the patient, though living, has 

 moved, the inspector examines the premises and makes such re- 

 commendations as seem to him necessary to render the habita- 

 tion free from danger of infection. These recommendations, 

 made out on a prescribed form, usually advise the following 

 routine treatment of apartments: Kalsomined or whitewashed 

 walls or ceilings are washed with a solution of washing soda (one- 

 half pound to three gallons of hot water), and then kalsomined 

 or whitewashed again; papered walls or ceilings are similarly 

 washed and repapered; the woodwork is scrubbed with the soda 

 solution and repainted. The inspector's recommendations are 

 forwarded to the board, and on them as a basis a ten-day order 

 is issued on the landlord requiring him to carry out the specified 

 renovation. The execution of the order is then (as with all 

 others of the board) placed under the supervision of the sanitary 

 police. The premises are reinspected, and if, at the expiration 

 of ten days, the owner has not complied with the order, it is re- 

 ferred to the attorney of the board for enforcement. This pro- 

 cedure was determined on because of the difficulty of disinfection 

 of apartments in which cases of tuberculosis have been, and the 

 greater efficiency attained by the system of renovation. The 

 method is easy of enforcement, as is shown by the fact that com- 

 pliance with the order has not been refused in a single case. 

 The chief point of interest in this plan is that renovation rather 

 than disinfection is called for. Disinfection involves the use of 

 materials and methods which are not universally familiar. The 

 method of renovation required is understood by all, and is 

 more efficient than any method of disinfection which could 

 be employed." 



Prior to this renovation the room with its con- 

 tents may be disinfected with formaldehyd gas, or 



