Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-02
hs.W&F

raised to the boiling point when eff
cient disinfection viii result.
If clothing is soiled it should be re-
moved Immediately from the patient or
his bed and transferred to the disin-
fecting solution, or the soap and wa
ter solution, before it is dried. Cloth
ing which has not been stained NAV
be disinfected by Immediately steaming
or boiling. (See Distinction, 12.)
| 5. In transporting clothing from the
sick room from steam disinfection OF.
| boiling, wrap it ilrr sheet Wet
| in one of the solutions mentioned in 4.
| or in absence of these, in water, AS
an alternative, the steam disinfector or
| boiler may be carried into the sick
| room and there filled.
6. Wooden Ciothing.-Disinfect with
steam or solutions under 4.
I. Bedding.-Throw straw beds out
of window. Empty out and burn
straw. Then disinfect the tick as in 4.
Disinfect feather beds, pillows, quilts,
comforters, and blankets in steam dis
injector when practicable, or if not
soiled, formaldehyde. (See 1S) Ad-
wise the burning of mattresses if dis
charges have penetrated them and
otCCtlil ilolillCNlloil 10
S. Rugs and Carpets.-D
with steam or formaldehyde if prob
ably infected: or if but slight value
advise burning. Carpets and rugs only
in the sick room will require disinfec-
ton.
8. Lounges, Couches, and Other Up
holstered Furniture.-If possibly soiled
by the patient will need disinfecton.
Leave in place when the room is dis
infected with formaldehyde, then, if
practicable. carry outdoors and expose
to direct sunshine as long as possible.
If of little value, strip off and disn-
feet the covering as in 4. Burn worth
less filling.
10. The Hands of Nurses and 9th
erS, who have attended to the wants of
the sick should be disinfected by thor
cugh and prolonged washing and
scrubbing in hot soap and water fol-
lowed by their immersion for several
minutes in the solution of carbolic acid
or lysol as in 4. Even then the hands
cannot be considered "surgically clean"
II. Sputum.-To be received on
pieces of rag or paper and burned, or
if in the cuspidor it may be disinfected
with four or five times it volume of
boiling water.
II. Steam disinfection or iisinfec-
ton by boiling should be employed so
far as these methods are applicable
and practicable. Boiling one-half hour
Will disinfect any article that can be
subjected to it. Steam disnfection,
properly done, is just as trustworthy,
and has the advantage of wetting the
goods less.
10. A steam disinfector may be or
dered as follows at tinman's: Make
it like n common tin wash boiler, only
have it % inches square, or made with
rounded corners. and 30 inches high.
Upon the sides. five inches from the
bottom. have brackets attached for the
support of false bottom. This false
bottom may be made of heavy galvan-
lied iron perforated with ten or twelve
half-inch holes. 1t should be support
ed in the middle by a cradle made of
galvanized iron Wire, or galvanized
iron plate, removable for convenience
when Wiping and drying the bottom.
The side brackets for the support of
this false bottom should be attached
with rivets, so they will not come off
if the heat strikes them above the sur
face of the water, as they might pos
sibly, if used over an open fire out
doors. The part of this steam dsin-
fector beneath the false flooring must
be perfectly water-tight: slight leaks
in the part above. which is to be filled
with steam, are of rot so much conse-
quence. Two strong handles should be
placed Is inches from the bottom on
opposite sides. Have two half-inch
holes in "a tLa aF
steam.
IA. When using this steam disinfec-
tor put three or four inches of water
into it, put in the false bottom. and
above that pack in rather loosely the
clothing to be disinfected; put the COW
er on tightly and steam one hour after
the water begins to boil keeping the
water briskly boiling all the time.
Many kinds of clothing that would be
injured by boiling can be disinfected
in this way without injury.
Is. After the steaming, the appar-
atuS should be carried into the open air
Immediately, and the clothing should be
thrown over a line. Usually clothing
thus treated is not very wet, and will
dry in few moments if spread out in
the open air while hot.
16. If you should have this appara-
tus made of galvanized iron, you would
need to have it lined on the in
side with thin strips of wood, or with
cloth, to keep the clothing from COM
ing in contact with the iron. You can
use the apparatus, in most cases. upon
the cooking stove, taking off the four
covers.
II. Steam distinction on a small
scale can be done in the common tin
wash boiler. by supporting. above the
water with two bricks or otherwise,
false flooring or laths or thin boards.
Formaldehyde.
IS. When the matter to be disinfect-
ed. is open (well exposed to the gas)
formaldehyde gas is much more eff
cient than the fumes of sulphur. For
maldehyde. also, has a somewhat great
er power of penetration than sulphur
Gus acid 1t will not, however, be
safe to trust to formaldehyde to pen
citrate deeply into clothing. 1t may be
used very conveniently and efficiently
for the disinfection of infected rooms.
furniture. or other infected surfaces