Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-12-13
ARTICLE 4,
Measures to be Taken by COnsuInp
tive for the Protection Of 9th
pPs and HimSelf.
ePS and Himself,

ways caused by living organism. That
in consumption or pulmonary tuberculosis,
this germ is found only in the sputum
Let this be promptly cared for and the
consumptive may, without danger, mingle
freely with his family and the public.
Consumption may exist for time with
but little cough and no expectoration.
During this period no special precautions
are needed. The danger begins when
there is expectoration.
In the first place consumptive should
always sleep alone; and, if possible, have a
room to himself. He should not kiss or
be kissed by any person, especially on his
lips. He should be close shaven. A
heavy beard makes it difficult TO expecto-
rate. and it is sure to become soiled by
sputum. He should have his own drink
ing vessel; and knives, forks, spoons, etc.,
used by him should be boiled thereafter.
He should never expectorate upon the
floor in any house, Office, workshop, car or
other public place. While it is much less
dangerous to expectorate upon the street
or sidewalk, this, too, is to be avoided.
In his home he may expectorate upon
paper or bits of rag provided these are at
once burned.
He should meyer use a handkerchief for
such purpose. This is common and espeo-
tally dangerous practice. The sputum
dries, and unfolding the handkerchief
numerous germs are set free. A cup with
handle may be used to spit into. Paper
cups to go inside of an outer cup are very
convenient. They may be procured at
most drug stores. The paper cups should
be burned and the outer cup disinfected by
placing 1t in boiling water at least once a
day. In all cases care must be taken not
to soil the fingers. If this happens the
hands should be at once thoroughly cleans
ed with soap and water.
Where natural gas is used for heating
purposes, as it is largely is in this State, it
may be very incoDvenient to burn paper
cups, rags, ETC. In that case the sputum
should be received in vessel containing
solution CT crude carbolie acid-an ounce
and half to quart of water; or, lysol
may be used -one-haf ounce to quart of
water. This vessel may be emptied into
the sewer, and it should be thoroughly
cleansed each day.
The ordinary cuspidor with sloping sides
is not suitable for the use Of consumptives
as the sputum on the sides soon dries and
may contaminate the air of the room. A
vessel on the floor for sputum should be
placed on square of linoleum or some
thing of like character, which should be
wiped with the disinfectant so
luton every day.
The greatest difficulty is to dispose Of
the sputum ont Of doors There are
several styles of pocket spit TASKS that may
be used They admit of easy cleaning, ard
prevent any escape of the sputnm in the
pocket. Consumptives hesitate to use
them, as they call attention to their dis
ease. They may be almost completely
hidden in handkerchief, and with a little
one could use them without de-
lection.
Squares of old linen cloth, or Of Jap
panese paper, can be used TO receive the
sputa, and these may be placed in a stout
paper bag and carried in the pocket. Bag
and contents should be promptly burned.
A newspaper can be folded and cut so as to
have leaves like small book This can be
slipped into stout paper envelope and
carried in the pocket. The sputa may be
received between TIE leaves of this booklet,
envelope and all to be burned daily.
Care should be taken 30 prevent sputum
getting upon she clothing or bed covers
The outer cover of the bed, which is mos
likely to become contaminated, should be
OF linen or something which may be fire..
queatly washed and boiled.
The outer clothing a consumptiye wears
should be hung out Of doors IN the sun
once or twice week. This will disin-
feet it.
There is another preeaution that should
be taken by consumptiyes. 1t has been
observed that person 10 coughing, expels
myriads Of minute particulars Of saliva It
has been demonstrated that consumptive
may expel many tubercle bacilli in this
way He should always, therefore, when
coughing, place handkerchief before his
mouth and turn his head away from any
person very near BIN.
The room occupied by consumptiye
should not be csrpeted. Bare floors, oiled
or painted, with rugs should be the rule.
There should be no needless draperies. No
broom nor busting brushes should be used
in this room. Cleansing should be done
with moist cloths, and the floor should be
gone over frequently with cloth wet with
a disinfectant. For this purpose corrosive
sublimate one drachm to the gallon Of water
is excellent, having no odor. 1t is vio-
lent poison il taken internally, and must
be handled with care.
Can anyone with consumption be ex-
cused from carrying out these very simple
precautions? Remember that the vast ma
iority Of cases OF this disease are caused by
the germs cast out in the sputum Of some
oonsumptive.
Il is safe to say that if every person in
New Jersey with consumption were to