WHOOPING-COUGH 213 



In the prevention of this disease isolation of the 

 sick must be given the first place. Children and 

 especially young children should be carefully guarded 

 from exposure to infection. The mucus coughed up 

 by the sick should be received upon handkerchiefs or 

 squares of muslin and these should be placed in a 

 disinfecting solution or burned. Free ventilation of 

 the apartments occupied by the sick and prolonged 

 exposure of infected articles to the sun and air will 

 suffice for the disinfection of the sick-room and its 

 contents. Isolation of the patient should be con- 

 tinued so long as the characteristic paroxysms of 

 coughing continue and for a few days after they 

 cease. The recurrence of a spasmodic cough after 

 this time, if two or three months has elapsed since 

 the outset of the attack, does not call for renewed 

 isolation of the patient, as such spasmodic cough- 

 ing is not unusual after all danger of infection has 

 passed. 



