PERSONAL DISINFECTION- 251 



in poor milk arc killed and rendered harmless in the process 

 of scalding. Dishes used by consumptives, and persons suf- 

 fering from contagious diseases, can be made harmless by 

 thorough washing in thick suds of almost boiling water. 



The bedding and clothing of persons suffering with diph- 

 theria, tuberculosis, and other germ diseases should always be 

 boiled and hung to dry in the bright sunlight. Heat and sun- 

 shine are two of the best disinfectants. 



232. Chemicals. Objects, such as furniture, which cannot 

 be boiled, are disinfected by the use of any one of several 

 chemicals, such as sulphur, carbolic acid, chloride of lime, 

 corrosive sublimate, etc. 



One of the simplest methods of disinfecting consists in 

 burning sulphur in a room whose doors, windows, and key- 

 holes have been closed, so that the burning fumes cannot 

 escape, but remain in the room long enough to destroy disease 

 germs. This is probably the most common means of fumi- 

 gation. 



For general purposes, carbolic acid is one of the very best 

 disinfectants, but must be used with caution, as it is a deadly 

 poison except when very dilute. 



Chloride of lime when exposed to the air and moisture slowly 

 gives off chlorine, and can be used as a disinfectant because the 

 gas thus set free attacks germs and destroys them. For this 

 reason chloride of lime is an excellent disinfectant of drain- 

 pipes. Certain bowel troubles, such as diarrhoea, are due to 

 microbes, and if the waste matter of a person suffering from 

 this or similar diseases is allowed passage through the drain- 

 age system, much damage may be done. But a small amount 

 of chloride of lime in the closet bowl will insure disinfection. 



233. Personal Disinfection. The hands may gather germs 

 from any substances or objects with which they come in con- 

 tact; hence the hands should be washed with soap and water, 



