STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION. 119 



atmosphere is constantly changing and replacing the 

 closeness so universally an accompaniment of fever by 

 fresh, pure air a comfort to the patient and a protection 

 to the doctors and nurses. 



After recovery or death one should rely less upon fu- 

 migation than upon the disinfection of the walls and 

 floor, the similar disinfection of the wooden part of the 

 furniture, and the sterilization of all else. The fumes 

 of sulphur may do some good when combined with 

 steam, much good but are greatly overestimated, and 

 the sulphurous vapors are rapidly giving way to the more 

 penetrating and germicidal formaldehyde vapor. To 

 apply this, the room to be sterilized is carefully closed, 

 the carefully selected apparatus set in action, and the 

 discharged vapor allowed to act undisturbed for some 

 hours, after which the windows and doors are all thrown 

 open to fresh air and sunlight. 



Instead of the gas, a 40 per cent, solution, which can 

 be sprayed upon the ceiling, walls, floor, and contents of 

 the room from a large atomizer, is sometimes used. Ex- 

 perience has not shown, however, that this possesses any 

 distinct advantages. 



So far as is at present known, the disinfection by form- 

 aldehyde is complete and leaves nothing to be desired. 

 Only one point is to be considered, already often men- 

 tioned that is, the apparatus. Of those experimented 

 with by the author, few have given satisfaction. 



The Dejecta. A little thought will direct attention to 

 those of the dejections which are dangerous to the com- 

 munity and promote efforts for their complete steriliza- 

 tion. In cases of diphtheria the vomit, expectorations, 

 and nasal discharges are most important. They should 

 be received in old rags or in Japanese paper napkins 

 not handkerchiefs or towels and should be burned. The 

 sputum of tuberculous patients should either be collected 

 in a glazed earthen vessel which can be subjected to boil- 

 ing and disinfection, or, as is an excellent plan, should be 

 received in Japanese rice-paper napkins, which can at 



