62 PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR DISINFECTION. 



metal or earthenware spit-cups are filled partly with a 0.4 

 per cent, solution of chloride of lime or a combination of car- 

 bolic and hydrochloric acids. 



The stools and urine of patients sick with an infectious dis- 

 ease, especially typhoid, intestinal tuberculosis, and cholera, 

 should be received in a vessel containing sulphate of copper 

 solution, or a 5 per cent, solution of chlorinated lime, or 20 

 per cent, milk of lime. The excreta are mixed thoroughly 

 with the disinfecting solution and allowed to stand for an 

 hour or two before final disposition is made of them. The 

 urine should be regarded with the same suspicion as the stool, 

 and should be disinfected immediately after its passage. 



Sick-room and hospital wards : The custom of placing in 

 a sick-room vessels containing disinfecting solutions, with 

 the expectation of disinfecting the air in the room, is 

 ridiculous. It is impossible to disinfect a room while the 

 patient is occupying it. It is important, however, that the 

 ventilation be perfect, so that there is a constant supply of 

 fresh air to take the place of the vitiated air. There is noth- 

 ing more disagreeable, and at the same time harmful, than to 

 enter a sick-room and be greeted by a heavy, foul-smelling 

 atmosphere. It undermines the patient's vitality and makes 

 him unfit to cope with the disease. Besides, fresh air is a 

 good purifier. If it is desired to disinfect the room while 

 occupied, the walls, floors, and ceiling should be well washed 

 with a 1 : 1000 mercuric chloride solution or a 2 per cent, 

 carbolic acid solution. The walls may be rubbed down first 

 with fresh bread. For reasons of cleanliness, sick-rooms 

 should contain as little furniture as possible, and no drapings, 

 curtains, or anything to which the contagium can cling. 



After the room has been vacated it is fumigated, with all 

 its contents, with sulphur dioxide for twelve hours. At least 

 3 pounds of sulphur should be used for each 1000 feet of 

 cubic air-space. Then all the surfaces are washed with 

 bichloride or carbolic acid solutions, followed by plenty of 

 hot water and soap and thorough ventilation. Whenever 

 possible, disinfection should be done by means of formalin 

 vapor. This will also disinfect the furniture and any articles 

 which were in the room during its occupancy by the patient. 



