120 PATHOGENIC BACTERIA. 



once be burned. These napkins are not quite as good 

 as the small pasteboard boxes (Fig. 20) recommended by 



FIG. 20. Pasteboard cup for receiving infectious sputum. When used the 

 pasteboard can be removed from the iron frame and burned. 



some city boards of health, because, being highly absorb- 

 ent, the sputum is apt to soak through and soil the fin- 

 gers, etc. Tuberculous patients should be provided with 

 rice-paper instead of handkerchiefs, and should have their 

 towels, knives, forks, spoons, plates, etc. kept strictly 

 apart from the others of the household (though the pa- 

 tients, whose mental acuity makes their sensibilities very 

 pronounced, need never be told of their isolation), and 

 frequently boiled for considerable lengths of time. 



The excreta from typhoid-fever and cholera cases re- 

 quire particular attention. These, and indeed all alvine 

 matter possibly the source of infection or contagion, 

 should be received in glazed earthen vessels and imme- 

 diately intimately mixed with a 5 per cent, solution 

 of chlorinated lime (containing 25 per cent, of chlorin) 

 if semi-solid, or with the powder if liquid, and allowed 

 to stand for an hour before being thrown into the 

 drain. 



Tin- Clothing^ etc. All bed-clothing which has been 

 used in the sick-room, all towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, 

 nijjht-robes, underclothes, etc. which have been used by 

 the sick, and all towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, caps, 

 aprons, and outside dresses worn by the nurse, should be 

 regarded as infected and subjected to sterilization. The 

 only satisfactory method of doing this is by prolonged 

 subjection to steam in a special apparatus; but, as this 



