PRACTICAL DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION 121 



hot soapsuds, and finally rinsed in hot water. These washing fluids 

 should afterward be thrown into the water-closet. The remains of 

 the patient's meals may be burned or thrown into a vessel containing 

 the carbolic solution or milk of lime, and allowed to stand for one hour 

 before being thrown away. 



8. Rooms and Their Contents. Rooms which have been occupied by 

 persons suffering from contagious disease should not be again occupied 

 until they have been thoroughly disinfected. For this purpose either 

 careful fumigation with formaldehyde gas or sulphur should be em- 

 ployed, or this combined with the following procedure: Carpets, cur- 

 tains, and upholstered furniture which have been soiled by discharges, 

 or which have been exposed to infection in the room during the illness, 

 will be removed for disinfection to chambers where they can be exposed 

 to formaldehyde gas and moderate warmth for twelve to twenty-four 

 hours, or to steam. Some carpets, such as many Wiltons, are dis- 

 colored by moist steam. These must be put in the formaldehyde cham- 

 ber. Woodwork, floors, and plain furniture will be thoroughly washed 

 with the soapsuds and bichloride solutions. 



9. Rags, cloths, and articles of small value, which have been soiled 

 by discharges or infected in other ways, should be boiled or burned. 



10. In case of death the body should be completely wrapped in 

 several thicknesses of cloth wrung out of the carbolic or bichloride 

 solution, and when possible placed in an hermetically sealed coffin. 



It is important to remember that an abundance of fresh air, sunlight, 

 and absolute cleanliness not only helps protect the attendants from 

 infection and aid in the recovery of the sick, but directly destroys the 

 bacteria which cause disease. 



Methods of Cleanliness and Disinfection to Prevent the 

 Occurrence of Illness. 



1. Water-closet bowls and all receptacles for human excrement should 

 be kept perfectly clean by frequent flushing with a large quantity of 

 water, and as often as necessary disinfected with the carbolic, bichloride, 

 or other efficient solutions. The woodwork around and beneath them 

 should be frequently scrubbed with the hot soapsuds solution. 



2. Sinks and the woodwork around and the floor beneath them should 

 be frequently and thoroughly scrubbed with the hot soapsuds solution. 



3. School Sinks. School sinks should be thoroughly flushed with a 

 large quantity of water at least twice daily, and should be carefully 

 cleaned twice a week or oftener by scrubbing. Several quarts of the 

 carbolic solution should be frequently thrown in the sink after it has 

 been flushed. 



4. Cesspools and Privy Vaults. An abundance of milk of lime or 

 chloride of lime should be thrown into these daily, and their contents 

 should be frequently removed. 



5. Cellars and rooms in cellars are to be frequently whitewashed, and, 

 if necessary, the floors sprinkled with dry chloride of lime. Areas and 



