APPLICATION OF DISINFECTANTS 263 



should be applied. We should look in at least four dif- 

 ferent directions : (i) the excreta and all discharges from the 

 patient ; (2) the person of the patient or of the attendant ; 



(3) clothing, including all bedding, wearing apparel, etc. ; 



(4) the sick room itself while occupied and after it is vacated. 

 Excreta. All discharges from a patient suffering from 



any infectious disease should be disinfected at once, since 

 they will always contain infectious microorganisms. This 

 would apply to the fasces, and all discharges from the mouth, 

 as well as from sores on the skin, etc. Such discharges 

 should be placed in a solution of corrosive sublimate, one 

 part sublimate to five hundred parts water, or of chloride of 

 lime, six ounces to a gallon. The quantity of the disin- 

 fectant should be large, and the material should be allowed 

 to soak in it for at least an hour before it is thrown into 

 closet or sewer. Such treatment effectually destroys its 

 pathogenic nature. It is of course difficult to disinfect 

 discharges from the skin, but all pus that exudes from 

 such sores should be collected and thoroughly disinfected. 

 The Person. The disinfection of the patient during 

 disease is rarely possible, and all that need be here stated 

 is that the skin should be kept clean by bathing in water 

 to which has been added a little glycerine. The disinfec- 

 tion of the person of nurse or attendant, however, should 

 be most carefully attended to in cases of serious infectious 

 diseases. The hands in particular are liable to become 

 infected with the pathogenic germs, because they are used 

 in handling the patient and his bedding. They should be 

 carefully washed in soap and water, special attention being 

 given to brushing the finger nails and removing all possible 

 dirt from them. Afterwards it is well to put the hands 



