DISINFECTANTS AND DISINFECTION. l6l 



brought about in a variety of ways. The liberal use of pure water for washing, 

 bathing and cleansing purposes is one of the oldest methods for getting rid 

 of pathogenic and otherwise objectionable organisms. It is, at the present 

 time, one of the most effectual means of disinfection, practised by the house- 

 wife, the nurse, the physician, in fact by all classes and conditions of peoples. 

 By bacterial cUeanliness we bring about a dilution, an attenuation, a dis- 

 semination of objectionable organisms to such a degree that bacterial 

 localization and infection are greatly retarded or are made impossible. 

 Cleanliness prevents filth and dirt accumulation. 



B. Pure Air. — Pure air, that is air free from disease organisms, is a prime 

 essential in preventive medicine. Not only should the air we breathe, be 

 free from bacterial infection, but it should also be free from smoke, fumes, 

 noxious gases, soot and dust. The air in many of our large cities is often 

 quite unsuitable for breathing purposes due to fumes, soot and smoke from 

 numerous furnaces and factories, stenches from sewage, from stock yards, 

 from gas factories, etc. This should not be. Stock yards, glue factories, etc., 

 should be sufficiently remote from cities to avoid permeating the city with 

 the horrible stenches emanating therefrom. Smoke, fumes and noxious 

 gases should not be permitted to escape. The recent tests with smoke con- 

 sumers, with the precipitation of fumes and smoke by means of electricity, etc., 

 would indicate that it is possible to prevent the pollution of the atmosphere 

 by the above agents. Just as soon as there is a smoke consumer on the 

 market that is a practical success, every smoke producing furnace should 

 be supplied with one, irrespective of cost. The same should apply to the 

 use of smelter fume precepitators. Streets should be kept comparatively 

 clean from dirt and dust by means of sprinkling cart and street sweepers 

 and cleaners. 



The "no spitting" ordinances are largely a failure simply because no 

 provision is made to supply the appurtenances necessary to carry them out. 

 It is not sufficient to simply put up a notice stating that "It is unlawful to 

 spit upon the floor," but cuspidors, or other receptacles must be provided 

 in sufficient numbers, conveniently placed, and furthermore said receptacles 

 must be kept clean and sterilized from time to time, otherwise they may 

 become- the breeding places and disseminators of disease. 



A most serious defect in places of habitation is the lack of pure air, as in 

 small bed-rooms, in. the Pullman sleepers, in sweat shops, in factories, in 

 school-rooms. Next to the crowded sweat shops in our large cities, the 

 lower berth in the American Pullman car, is most unsuitable for human 

 habitation. Rooms for living purposes, sleeping purposes, for factory use, 

 office use, etc., etc., should not only be large enough, but there should be 

 adequate provision to renew the air constandy, no matter how warm or 

 how cold it may be. We need a thorough sanitary supervision of all building 



