STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION. 1 79 



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 

 to stand for an hour before being thrown into the 

 drain. 



The Clothing, etc. — All bed-clothing which has been 

 used in the sick-room, all towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, 

 night-robes, underclothes, etc. which have been used by 

 the sick, and all towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, caps, 

 aprons, and outside dresses worn by the nurse, should be 

 regarded as infected and subjected to sterilization. The 

 only satisfactory method of doing this is by prolonged 

 subjection to steam in a special apparatus ; but, as this 

 is only possible in hospitals, the next best thing is boiling 

 for some time in the ordinary wash-boiler. When possi- 

 ble, the clothes should be soaked in 1 : 2000 bichlorid solu- 

 tion before or after boiling, and in drying should hang in 

 the sun and wind. Woollen underwear can be treated 

 exactly as if of cotton. The woollen outer clothing of 

 the patient, if infected, requires special treatment. For- 

 tunately, the infection of the outer woollen garments is 

 unusual. The only reliable method for their purification 

 is prolonged exposure to hot air at no°C. In private 

 practice it becomes a grave question what shall be done 

 with these articles. Prolonged exposure to fresh air and 

 sunlight will aid in rendering them harmless ; when it 

 is certain that articles of wool are infected, they may be 

 sent to the city hospital or to certain of the moth-destroy- 

 ing and fumigating establishments which can be found 

 in all large cities, and be baked. 



