SUSCEPTIBILITY AND INFECTION 79 



with formaldehyd should be carried out in the usual 

 manner. 



Cerebrospinal Meningitis and Infantile Paralysis. 

 Exclude flies. While the means of dissemination of 

 these diseases are not as yet well understood, the fre- 

 quent presence of the meningococcus in the secretions of 

 the nose and pharynx, and the fact that the nasal secre- 

 tions in infantile paralysis have been shown to be infec- 

 tious for monkeys, are sufficient reasons for especial 

 attention to these secretions. The laws regarding quar- 

 antine in these diseases are very lax as yet, but strict 

 isolation should be insisted upon and every precaution 

 taken to prevent the spread of the infection, and until 

 more complete knowledge is available regarding these 

 diseases, fumigation of the rooms occupied by the pa- 

 tient would be only the part of wisdom, as would the 

 use of Flexner's antitoxin on nurse and attendants in 

 meningitis. 



Erysipelas and Suppurative Diseases. Exclude flies. 

 These, being more especially surgical infections, are of 

 greater danger to persons having open wounds, to women 

 in confinement, etc. The precautions necessary are 

 less exacting. Pus, scales, crusts, and wound discharges 

 should be carefully burned or disinfected. 



If there be a possibility of the room being used for a 

 surgical confinement case at any future time, it should 

 be fumigated. 



