322 OUR BODIES AND HOW WE LIVE 



thorough isolation of those who are suffering from the 

 various kinds of infectious and contagious diseases. 



Next to the doctor much depends upon the person who 

 has charge of nursing the patient. Those who nurse the 

 sick should see to it that their persons and clothing are 

 kept surgically neat and clean. The trained nurse, for 

 instance, wears a cap to protect her head, for it is known 

 that the hair makes a good lodging place for bacteria. 



The face, hair, and hands should be carefully washed 

 with some disinfectant, especially after handling the person, 

 the bedding, or the clothing of the patient. Rigid cleanli- 

 ness of the finger nails is necessary. Nurses should change 

 the clothing worn in the sick room when they leave the 

 room to mingle with the family or to walk on the street 

 for exercise. 



445. Hints on nursing Contagious and Infectious Diseases. 

 Strip the room of superfluous rugs, carpets, and furniture. 

 Isolate two rooms if possible, and have these, if convenient, 

 at the top of the house. 



The most scrupulous care should be taken in regard to 

 cleanliness. Old pieces of linen, cheese cloth, and paper 

 napkins should be used whenever convenient or necessary 

 and then burned at once. All soiled clothing that cannot 

 well be burned should be put to soak at once in disinfect- 

 ants and afterwards boiled apart from the family wash. 

 Dishes and all utensils should be kept scrupulously clean 

 by frequent boiling. 



For the bed and person old and worn articles of clothing 

 that can be destroyed should be worn as far as possible. 

 Tack sheets, wet in some proper disinfectant, to the outer 

 frame of the sick-room door. Boil these sheets every third 

 or fourth day (Sees. 430-436). 



