48 
principles of bacteriology 
envelope of mucus; a 5 per cent solution of carbolic 
acid is very efficient; sputum cups had best be burned; 
sputum napkins can either be soaked in a 5 per cent 
solution of carbolic acid or immersed in boiling water 
for a half hour. Do not use bichloride of mercury as 
it forms a thick layer of albuminated mercury around 
the bacteria. 
2. Feces should be received in a porcelain or metal 
container and immediately mixed with large amounts 
of 5 per cent carbolic acid or formalin or 10 per cent 
chloride of lime, and allowed to remain in contact with 
these substances for at least one hour before disposing. 
The soiled parts of the patient should be wiped with 
a cloth dipped in 2 per cent carbolic acid or cresol, 
then with water to remove the disinfectant. 
3. Urine may be disinfected in a manner similar to 
that in which feces should be disinfected. 
4. Cloth material, linen, napkins, etc., which had 
been handled by the patient should be soaked for at 
least two hours, either in 2 per cent formalin or in 5 
per cent carbolic acid, before it is taken out to be boiled 
—be careful not to remove any infected linen from the 
patient’s room in a dry state. 
5. Bath water should not be allowed to drain before 
it had been mixed with an ounce or two of chlorinated 
lime for at least an hour. 
6. Skin and hands should be scrubbed with a brush 
and green soap and then soaked for a few minutes in 
1:1000 solution of bichloride of mercury. 
A patient recovering from diseases such as smallpox, 
scarlet fever, measles, and other “eruptive” fevers 
should receive a bath in 1:1000 solution of bichloride 
of mercury (taking care not to have the solution enter 
the patient’s mouth, nose, ears, or eyes). 
