434 GENERAL SCIENCE 



thing known or believed to be infected. Individuals may 

 be quarantined or isolated in a single room and there all 

 precaution taken to prevent the spread of the disease to 

 other members of the household. Sometimes the house 

 in which live one or more victims of disease is quaran- 

 tined to prevent persons from entering, or what is more 

 dangerous, leaving the house. Ships are often prevented 

 from entering port for days or even for weeks because the 

 health authorities have reason to believe that passengers 

 or goods have been infected. 



If we are truly in earnest in our campaign against 

 disease, we must respect, and insist on others respecting, 

 quarantines. We may suffer great inconvenience some- 

 times because of the restrictions which quarantine im- 

 poses, but we must remember that it is an essential factor 

 in solving the health problem. 



Disinfectants. Any process by which germs are 

 destroyed may be spoken of as disinfection. The sub- 

 stance used is called the disinfectant. Disinfection which 

 is accomplished by means of gases is called fumigation. 



The common household disinfectants are soap and hot 

 water. Sunlight and air are great destroyers of germs. 

 Their effectiveness has been known to generations of 

 housewives who have hung clothes and bedding on the 

 line to " air." Intense heat is a most efficient method of 

 killing germs. Dishes used by diseased persons may be 

 rendered harmless by placing in boiling water for a few 

 minutes. Typhoid germs in water and on articles used 

 by patients can be killed by boiling twenty minutes. 

 Articles such as bandages and surgical dressings may 

 be rendered sterile (free from germs) by subjecting to 

 great heat for some time. 



Many chemicals are used as disinfectants. The most 



