SANITATION 501 



a simple method of precaution consists in sterilizing the 

 needle by holding it in a flame for a moment. The ban- 

 dages used in binding up wounds should all be 'sterilized in 

 some manner. 



Disinfection. — ^Vhile this term means to free from bac- 

 teria, it is frequently used to refer to the methods in which 

 objects are freed from disease germs. After a patient has 

 been sick of diphtheria or other germ disease it becomes 

 necessary as a matter of safety to the community that all 

 clothing, furniture, and surroundings of the sick person be 

 freed of germs, since their presence there might mean their 

 introduction into some other person. There are various 

 methods of performing this disinfection, but one of, the 

 simplest consists in sealing up the room and burning sul- 

 phur in it. The fumes of burning sulphur are sufficient to 

 kill all forms of harmful bacteria. There are other kinds 

 of disinfectants beside sulphur, and any form which kills 

 bacteria is entitled to the name. In use it is imperative 

 that the disinfectant be brought in direct contact with the 

 germs. The mere presence of a disinfectant in a room is 

 not a sufficient safeguard, and often disinfectants are sold 

 which give out an odor but do not necessarily come in con- 

 tact with the germs for a sufficient length of time to kill 

 them. It is quite as important to know how to use a dis- 

 infectant as to know its name. One of the best disinfec- 

 tants is plenty of bright sunlight. 



Sanitation. 



It is important that we know how to treat cases of 

 bacteria-caused disease. It is still better to prevent such 

 disease altogether. To a certain extent every one is respon- 

 sible for the proper care of his person and property. In a 



