THE CONTROL OF HEALTH 389 



whooping cough, influenza, pneumonia, diphtheria, or men- 

 ingitis. 



Clothing and bedding which may have been stained by 

 fluids from the body of a sick person should be thoroughly 

 boiled and other articles from the sick room hung in the air 

 and sunshine for several hours to free them from bacteria. 

 Thin clothing hanging in a closet can be disinfected by placing 

 a small sheet, sprayed with strong formalin, in the closet and 

 closing the door tightly for some hours. 



If a room is to be disinfected, the permanganate-formalin 

 method is considered the best. The method of procedure is 

 as follows: After sealing the room air-tight (strips of paper 

 can be pasted over cracks), place potassium permanganate 

 (250 grams 9 ounces for each 100 cubic feet of space) in a 

 very deep pail near the middle of the room; the pail should 

 stand on a couple of bricks or similar support as the bottom 

 will become hot. When all is ready, pour onto the perman- 

 ganate 500 cc. (about 1 pint) of formalin, full strength. The 

 gas from this has poor penetrating power, so that thick cloth- 

 ing, bedding, etc., should be given special treatment, i. e. 

 steamed, boiled or soaked in 5% solution of formalin. 



Special Home Problems: Sewage Disposal. In most 

 municipalities refuse from kitchen sinks, lavatories, and 

 toilets is carried away by the sewage system. In smaller 

 villages and country places, private cess-pools, with un- 

 cemented walls will, with little attention, take care of the 

 needs of an ordinary house for some years. Such a cess-pool 

 must never be located so that seepage from it will enter any 

 supply of water. 



In the country, if privy vaults are necessary, they should 

 be perfectly isolated from flies or vermin and be so closed and 

 treated as to be free from odor. The container should be a 

 removable, water-tight can, the contents of Avhich should be 

 frequently buried, never thrown on top of the ground. 



Special School Problems: (a) Sanitation of Public 



