278 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



patent mixtures that are hawked about the country, and 

 with which every drug-store, and some of the groceries are 

 filled under the name of germicides, deoderizers, etc., no 

 matter what miracles their proprietors may claim they have 

 accomplished ; for, in caring for one of these contagious 

 diseases, you are dealing with the most important and 

 weighty concerns of the community, for upon you they 

 must rely for protection against this common enemy, and 

 the principal weapon with which you are to defend them is 

 this disinfecting solution. Let me say to you again, be 

 sure of its potency before you rely upon it. The best disin- 

 fectant where solutions can be used, is the bi-chloride of 

 mercury, one part to a thousand of water. You may say 

 this is a deadly poison and its use is dangerous, but all dis- 

 infections are poisonous, and so are the germs with which 

 we arc dealing, and where the chemical has destroyed one 

 life, contagious disoaso has destroj^ed millions. This l)ottle 

 of disinfecting fluid should be plainly marked. 



All of the soiled linen or clothing that is to be washed 

 should be kept by itself. It should be thoroughly soaked in 

 the disinfecting fluid, or else placed in a kettle and thor- 

 oughly boiled before any other than the nurse is allowed to 

 handle them. All of the dishes, knives, spoons, etc., used 

 by the patient should be scalded in boiling water, or else 

 washed with the disinfecting solution before, or as soon as 

 they leave the room. No pieces of food should ever be 

 carried from the sick room, they should at once be burned. 



In cases of diphtheria we have seen the great source of 

 danger is from the secretions of the mouth and throat. These 

 should receive especial attention. They should be received on 

 small pieces of old cloth, and these should be burned, or if 

 a spit-cup is used it should contain a quantity of the disin- 

 fectant, more of which should be added from time to time. 

 In cases of typhoid fever, as the great danger is from the 

 excretions from the bowels, these should be carefully disin- 

 fected before they arc carried from the nick chamber. The 

 nurse or attendant before visiting other parts of the house, 

 should wash her hands in the disinfecting fluid, step outside 

 the door of the sick-room, exchange her wrapper for another 

 and remove her cap. 



