CHAPTER IV. 



BACILLUS TUBERCULOSIS (Continued}. 



Prophylaxis against tuberculosis : In view of the bac- 

 terial origin of tuberculosis, it may not be amiss to say a few 

 words about prophylaxis. If proper disinfection were prac- 

 tised, it would be possible to stamp out effectually the disease 

 by simply killing all the tubercle bacilli. Prophylaxis should 

 be directed especially against the sputum as the most common 

 source of infection. If all sputum could be rendered innocu- 

 ous, tuberculosis would be stomped out completely. 



The patient should be impressed with the importance of 

 disposing of his sputum so that it will not be an element of 

 danger to others. In hospitals and sanitoria it is customary 

 to supply the patient with a spit-cup containing either water 

 or an antiseptic such as carbolic acid. If the sputum is kept 

 wet, it cannot desiccate and be blown about the room every 

 time the door is opened or by the draught caused by women's 

 skirts. These spit-cups are made either of glass or porcelain. 

 They are not very satisfactory, however, as the disinfectant 

 action of the carbolic acid is not very great, and also because 

 of the coagulation of the albumins which it causes. The 

 contents of these spit-cups are usually emptied into a water- 

 closet or they are disinfected by boiling. 



A much better spit-cup is the one in use by the Boston 

 Board of Health. It consists of a light metal frame in 

 which a pasteboard box is placed. When the cup is full, or 

 at the end of each day, it is removed, and burnt. This 

 insures perfect disinfection, and the cups are so inexpensive 

 as to be within the reach of everybody (see also Fig. 19). 



On the street the tuberculous individual is a source of 

 greater danger than in the house. He should never be allowed 

 to expectorate on the street, nor in any public place or con- 



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