102 PATHOGENIC BACTERIA. 



those of the dejections which are dangerous to the com- 

 munity and promote efforts for their complete steriliza- 

 tion. In cases of diphtheria the vomit, expectorations, 

 and nasal discharges are most important. They should 

 be received in old rags or in Japanese paper napkins 

 not handkerchiefs or towels and should be burned. The 

 sputum of tuberculous patients should either be collected 

 in a glazed earthen vessel which can be subjected to boil- 

 ing and disinfection, or, as is an excellent plan, should be 

 received in Japanese rice-paper napkins, which can at 

 once be burned. These napkins are not quite as good 

 as the small pasteboard boxes (Fig. 16) recommended by 



FIG. 1 6. Pasteboard cup for receiving infectious sputum. When used the 

 pasteboard can be removed from the iron frame and burned. 



some city boards of health, because, being highly absorb- 

 ent, the sputum is apt to soak through and soil the rin- 

 gers, etc. Tuberculous patients should be provided with 

 rice-paper instead of handkerchiefs, and should have their 

 towels, knives, forks, spoons, plates, etc. kept strictly 

 apart from the others of the household (though the pa- 

 tients, whose mental acuity makes their sensibilities very 

 pronounced, need never be told of their isolation), and 

 frequently boiled for considerable lengths of time. 



The excreta from typhoid-fever and cholera cases re- 

 quire particular attention. These, and indeed all alvine 

 matter possibly the source of infection or contagion, 

 should be received in glazed earthen vessels and imme- 

 diately intimately mixed with a 5 per cent, solution 

 of chlorinated lime (containing 25 per cent, of chlorin) 

 if semi-solid, or with the powder if liquid, and allowed 



