56 
BACTERIOLOGY. 
Preven¬ 
tion 
from the spinal fluid. In addition to its use as a diag¬ 
nostic aid, lumbar puncture is very often the means 
of relieving the symptoms of pressure due to an exces¬ 
sive amount of fluid in the spinal canal, and for this 
reason it is customary to remove a large amount of the 
fluid. 
The meningococcus is spread by the discharges 
from the mouth, nose, and ears of patients sick with 
meningitis, and it is not infrequent to find the organ¬ 
isms in the secretions of the nose and mouth of those 
attending them. Occasionally they may be found in 
the nasal secretions of healthy people who may act as 
carriers of the infection. To prevent the disease from 
spreading it is essential first of all to remove the pa¬ 
tient from contact with others, especially during the 
first two weeks of the disease, for at this period the 
infection is most virulent. Then all discharges from 
the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears should be collected in 
cloths and paper napkins and burned. Cultures should 
be made from the nasopharynx of those who have been 
exposed to the infection. All persons in whom the 
meningococcus is found should be isolated. Nurses in 
attendance should use great care to disinfect the lianas 
after handling the patient, and spray the nose and 
mouth with antiseptic solutions. Children living in 
the same house should not be permitted to attend 
school until it is certain that they have not been 
infected. 
Cerebrospinal meningitis in the epidemic form 
has been attended with a very high mortality in the 
