120 PRINCIPLES OF BACTERIOLOGY 



should completely mix with and cover it. After standing for an hour 

 or more the disinfecting solution with the discharges may be thrown 

 into the water-closet. Cloths, towels, napkins, bedding, or clothing 

 soiled by the discharges must be at once placed in the carbolic solution, 

 and the hands of the attendants disinfected, as described above. In 

 convalescence from measles and scarlet fever the scales from the skin 

 are also carriers of infection. To prevent the dissemination of disease 

 by means of these scales the skin should be carefully washed daily in 

 warm soap and water. After use the soapsuds should be disinfected 

 and thrown into the water-closet. 



Masses of feces are extremely difficult to disinfect except on the 

 surface, for it takes disinfectants such as the carbolic acid solution 

 some twelve hours to penetrate to their interior. If fecal masses are to 

 be thrown into places where the disinfectant solution covering them 

 will be washed off, it will be necessary to be certain that the disinfectant 

 has previously penetrated to all portions and destroyed the disease 

 germs. This can be brought about by stirring them with the disin- 

 fectant and allowing the mixture to stand for one hour, or by washing 

 them into a pot holding soda solution which is already at the boiling 

 temperature, or later will be brought to one. 



5. Sputum from Consumptive Patients. The importance of the proper 

 disinfection of the sputum from consumptive patients is still under- 

 estimated. Consumption is an infectious disease, and is always the 

 result of transmission from the sick to the healthy or from animals to 

 man. The sputum contains the germs which cause the disease, and 

 in a large proportion of cases is the source of infection. After being 

 discharged, unless properly disposed of, it may become dry and pul- 

 verized and float in the air as dust. This dust contains the germs, and 

 is a common cause of the disease, through inhalation. In all cases, 

 therefore, the sputum should be disinfected when discharged. It should 

 be received in covered cups containing the carbolic or milk-of-lime 

 solution. Handkerchiefs soiled by it should be soaked in the carbolic 

 solution and then boiled. Dust from the walls, mouldings, pictures, 

 etc., in rooms that have been occupied by consumptive patients, where 

 the rules of cleanliness have not been carried out, contain the germs 

 and will produce tuberculosis in animals when used for their inoculation; 

 therefore, rooms should be thoroughly disinfected before they are again 

 occupied. If the sputum of all consumptive patients were destroyed 

 at once when discharged a large proportion of the cases of the disease 

 would be prevented. 



6. Closets, Kitchen and Hallway Sinks, etc. The closet should never 

 be used for infected discharges until they have been thoroughly disin- 

 fected, if it can be avoided; if done, one pint of carbolic solution should 

 be poured into the pan (after it is emptied) and allowed to remain there. 

 Sinks should be flushed at least once daily. 



7. Dishes, knives, forks, spoons, etc., used by a patient should, as a 

 rule, be kept for his exclusive use and not removed from the room. 

 They should be washed first in the carbolic solution, then in boiling 



