18S ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY 



face and clothing from becoming soiled with the matter coughed up. If 

 they do become thus soiled, they should at once be washed with soap and 

 hot water. Men with consumption should wear no beards at all, or only 

 closely cut mustaches. When consumptives are away from home, the 

 matter coughed up should be received in a pocket flask made for this pur- 

 pose. If cloths must be used, they should be immediately burned on re- 

 turning home. If handkerchiefs be used (worthless cloths, which can be 

 at once burned, are far better), they should be boiled at least half an hour 

 in water by themselves before being washed. When coughing or sneezing, 

 small particles of spittle containing germs are expelled, so that consump- 

 tives should always hold a handkerchief or cloth before the mouth during 

 these acts; otherwise, the use of cloths and handkerchiefs to receive the 

 matter coughed up should be avoided as much as possible, because it 

 readily dries on these, and becomes separated and scattered into the air. 

 Hence, when possible, the matter should be received into cups or flasks. Paper 

 cups are better than ordinary cups, as the former with their contents may 

 be burned after being used. A pocket flask of glass, metal, or pasteboard 

 is also a most convenient receptacle to spit in when away from home. Cheap 

 and convenient forms of flasks and cups may be purchased at many drug 

 stores. Patients too weak to use a cup should use moist rags, which shoul 

 at once be burned. If cloths are used they should not be carried loose 

 the pocket, but in a water-proof receptacle (tobacco pouch), which shoul 

 be frequently boiled. A consumptive should never swallow his expecton 

 tion. 



"A consumptive should have his own bed, and if possible, hi 

 room. The room should always have an abundance of fresh air tl 

 window should be open day and night. The patient's soiled wash-cloth* 

 and bed linen should be handled as little as possible when dry, but shoi 

 be placed in water until ready for washing. 



"If the matter coughed up be rendered harmless, a consumptive ma] 

 frequently not only do his usual work without giving the disease to other 

 but may also thus improve his own condition and increase his chances 

 getting well." 



The simple discovery that a little parasite is the cause of 

 this disease, has been the means of saving many thousam 

 of lives. This seems hardly credible, for the discovery 

 the cause does not tell us of any cure. But it has shown 

 where the danger lies, and we can much better protect oui 

 selves from a known than from an unknown danger. At 

 events, since Prof. Koch discovered the cause of tuberculosis, 



