554 PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



It is admitted, however, that there may be cases of peculiar sensibility to 

 the poisonous influences of lead in which these dyes may be injurious. 

 Professor Wilson, as we have said, is high authority on these matters, 

 but we nevertheless advise our readers to avoid all hair dyes containing 

 lead, especially as there are preparations for the purpose that are certainly 

 harmless,— if one is foolish enough to dye the hair at all. — Boston Journal 

 of Chemistry. 



Plain Directions for Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases. 



BY J. M. MACLAGAN, M. D. 



General Directions. — I. When a ease of infectious disease occurs in a 

 house, immediate notice thereof should be given to the Medical Officer of 

 Health or to the Inspector of Nuisances, and medical advice at once procured. 



The following ^precautions should be taken : 



1. Isolate the person affected as much as possible from the other inmates 

 of the house. 



This is most readily effected by at once removing him to an upj)er room, 

 if circumstances permit. The room selected should be large and airy, and 

 the means of ventilating it, which shall be presently mentioned, at once 

 adopted. 



2. Before removing the patient, the following preparations ought to be 

 made in the room : 



All superfluous curtains, carj^ets, woolen articles, unnecessary clothing 

 — in short, everything likely to retain infection, should be at once removed- 



3. The patient's bed ought to be so placed as to allow of a free current 

 of air around it, but not so as to place it in a draught. 



4. The room must be kept well ventilated, under the physician's direc- 

 tions, by means either of a fire (when required) or an open tire place and 

 chimney, and of windows opening to the external air. By means of the 

 latter, ventilation is most effectually procured, so as to avoid draughts in 

 the following manner : 



Raise the lower sash of the window three or four inches, then procure a 

 piece of wood made to fit accurately into the lower opening, and place it 

 there. By these means free outward and inward currents of air — without 

 causing any draughts — are obtained through the vacant space between the 

 two sashes. When a window is merely opened from the upper and lower 

 sash, draughts are invariably caused. 



II. After removal of the patient to the room in which he is to remain, 

 the outside of the door and door-posts should be completely covered by a 

 sheet kept constantly wetted with some disinfecting fluid, such as Burnetfs 

 Solution, Condy's Fluid, Carbolic Acid, etc. 



2. The room must be kept scrupulously clean. Before being swept, 

 which should be done dail}', if possible, the floor should be sprinkled with 



