CONTROL OF BACTERIAL DISEASES 251 



Let each member of the class work out one of the following problems 

 in detail and present results to class : How would you plan to take sole- 

 care of a case of typhoid (to insure against catching it yourself or 

 permitting it to spread to others) ? of tuberculosis ? of grippe ? of 

 pneumonia? of diphtheria? of dysentery? of erysipelas? of leprosy? 

 of scarlet fever? of measles? of pellagra? of smallpox? (Refer to 

 best available manuals for trained nurses.) 



What precautions would you take if you were a typhoid carrier? 

 if you were a diphtheria carrier? if you were infected with tubercu- 

 losis? if you had the grippe? if you had tonsillitis? if you had a cold? 

 Is the Schick reaction used in your district to test immunity to diph- 

 theria? Look up use of Widal reaction in detection of typhoid carriers. 



Make out a complete list of diseases of man and other animals for 

 which we have reliable antitoxins, vaccines, or bacterins. Discuss their 

 use in your district and get reports from those who have tested them. 

 File this list in the laboratory and note changes and growth from 

 year to year. 



It is estimated that in 1914 diseases of farm animals caused damage 

 to the amount of $212,000,000. Can the class work out plans of coop- 

 eration by which any of these diseases may be brought under control ? 



Compare the merits, for various purposes, of different disinfectants, 

 antiseptics, and germicides on the market. Study especially the home 

 and dairy use of the hypochlorites. Get the reports on all these things 

 from the United States Public Health Service, Washington, D.C. 



Collect and discuss national, state, and local quarantine and health 

 laws and ordinances. 



Visit as many of the local dairies as possible. Obtain the official 

 score cards from your dairy inspector and study the scoring he has 

 given. Are the dairymen included in the scoring? 



In the light of all you have learned about bacteria, discuss the prob- 

 lem of washing dishes properly. Should we banish the " common dish- 

 towel " along with the ** common roller towel." Make plate tests for 

 numbers of bacteria in "dishcloths," in "dish-towels," in "dishwater," 

 and on the dishes after different methods of washing and drying. How 

 do these tests compare with those made on dishes after actually boiling 

 for five minutes in the rinsing water ? after treating with hypochlorite 

 in rinsing water, without wiping ? 



It is being claimed that spread of infections in families, especially 

 of colds, grippe, and tonsillitis, might be greatly reduced by steriliza- 

 tion of dishes. Can the class find a test for this in their own homes ? 



