DIPHTHERIA 195 



compared to whites. This applies only to children 

 under one year of age (345.7 per 100,000 coloured 

 and 154.9 P er 100,000 white) ; beyond this age the 

 mortality is somewhat greater among white children. 



For the prevention of diphtheria it will not only be 

 necessary to disinfect the sputa of the sick and all 

 articles liable to be soiled by it, but also to isolate 

 infected individuals until all danger of their com- 

 municating the disease has passed. The measures 

 recommended in the previous chapter for the disin- 

 fection of tuberculous sputum apply equally well for 

 diphtheria. The diphtheria bacillus is promptly de- 

 stroyed by a temperature of 140 Fahr. (60 C.) 

 and by the various germicides heretofore mentioned. 

 Boiling water, for all articles which can be sent to 

 the laundry and for the disinfection of sputa in metal 

 or porcelain receptacles, is the cheapest and most re- 

 liable disinfectant, but it will usually be necessary to 

 use a solution of carbolic acid (three to five per cent.), 

 or one of the other coal-tar products (lysol, creolin, tri- 

 cresol), in the sick-room. Woollen clothing and other 

 articles which would be injured by immersion in boil- 

 ing water may be disinfected by steam or by formal- 

 dehyd gas. 



The New York Health Department makes the fol- 

 lowing judicious recommendations with reference to 

 the prevention of diphtheria : 



