112 THE ACUTE SELF-LIMITED INFECTIONS 



some authorities as the most important and fruitful 

 method. Upon bed-pans, glasses, eating utensils, bed 

 linen, or clothes there may be a few bacilli lurking, 

 which can easily be conveyed to the mouth by persons 

 handling these objects. 



Measures for preventing infection should be directed 

 toward killing all the typhoid bacilli, not such a diffi- 

 cult task. Infective material consists of feces, urine, 

 expectoration, and possibly, perspiration. Any of these 

 may infect bed or body linen, and the last can spread 

 the bacilli on dishes or hands. All discharges should 

 be received in carbolic acid solutions, well mixed and 

 allowed to stand half an hour before emptying into a 

 drain. Clothing of all kinds should be soaked in carbolic 

 or corrosive sublimate solution for an hour, and then 

 boiled. The same procedure should be followed with 

 glasses and eating utensils. The mouth should be 

 washed or wiped with boric acid solution frequently. 

 A dish of bichloride, 1 to 2000, should be convenient, 

 so that the nurse or visitor may cleanse the hands 

 frequently. 



The typhoid bacilli may lurk in the body, probably 

 in the bile passages, for a long time after the attack. 

 For this reason disinfection of stools and urine should 

 be continued for at least two months after the patient 

 is well. Such people as may spread the disease by 

 this means are called "carriers" 



The typhoid bacillus is an organism exerting its 

 noxious power by means of poisons contained in its 

 body and liberated upon its disintegration. These 

 endocellular poisons are capable of calling forth a 

 reaction upon the part of the body which results in 



