558 APPLIED BIOLOGY 



In the cases of all germ diseases, the doorway to the patient's 

 room should be kept covered with a damp sheet to prevent as 

 far as possible the exit of dust particles. 



(2) Disinfection. Remember that all articles in contact 

 with a patient may bear the germs. To reduce the amount 

 of disinfection which will be necessary, remove all useless 

 carpets, curtains, and furniture as soon as the disease is 

 diagnosed; and thereafter remove nothing from the room 

 except under the strictest germicidal precautions. Hence 

 all clothing, bedding, handkerchiefs, etc., should be placed in 

 a tight receptacle, such as a wash-boiler, covered with water, 

 and boiled for twenty minutes before they can safely be 

 sent to a laundry or washed in tubs at home. The wash- 

 boiler should be kept in the patient's room, and not opened 

 until after boiling. Its outside should be wiped with a 

 cloth wet with strong washing-powder solution, or other 

 germicide, if necessary to take it to another room for 

 boiling. 



Spoons, dishes, tumblers, etc., should be placed in a bucket 

 of water (preferably hot and containing much washing- 

 powder) before removing from the patient's room, and then 

 boiled for 20 to 30 minutes. Food left by the patient should 

 also be boiled or burned. Playthings used by children 

 should be such as can be washed in germicide solutions, 

 boiled, or burned after convalescence. A doll or a " teddy 

 bear," if not burned, might be a very dangerous carrier 

 of germs. Books or magazines should be of little value, 

 never from libraries, and finally carried (in a closed bucket) 

 to a stove or furnace. 



The one who attends the patient should thoroughly wash 

 her hands frequently with hot water and strong soap, or 

 germicide solutions, and before leaving the room. Neglect 

 of this simple precaution has often spread germ diseases. 

 The habit of expert nurses of wearing washable dresses 

 should be imitated as far as possible. 



