Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-09-24
HOUSEHOLD.
DISINFECTANTS AND THEIR USE.

Distinction means the killing OF
disease germs, and a disinfectant or
germicide is a substance or agent
that destroys them. The persons
most closely associated with the SICK
are those most liable TO infection, ana
for the protection of everyone 1t Is
necessary to limit the spreading about
OF these germs as much as possible;
thus il becomes necessary to use dis
infectants. There is much humbug-..
gerry about s1IsInfection, however,
and many attempts to disinfect are
entirely without value from the lack
of understanding of the object and
method of procedure.
1t may be well to point out the diff
fere nee between disinfectant and a
deodorant; while disinfectant kills
germs, deodorant destroys odors,
and has no power to kill germs. A
deodorant is sometimes needed. but
it must not be use d with the idea that
it is a germicide also. Charcoal is a
good example of a deodorant, and
whitewash has both deodorizing and
disinfecting power. Many of the So
called disinfectants are very weak In
germ killing power, and are simply
deodorants.
Cleanliness is the foremost agency
in destroying disease germs. 1t
should be constantly practiced from
the beginning to the end of an illness.
The mere act of cleansing destroys
many germs, while scrubbing and
hopping remove many more. These
processes are an efficient disinfectant
in another way, because the Y remove
dirt in which germs may find their
nourishment and food for gr with.
Good soap and water clea nsing should
never be forgotten. Dry busting
should be done with great care in a
sick room, and that abomination of
brooms, the feather buster, should be
excluded not only from the sick room
but from every house.
Sunlight is a very valuable Destroy
er of bacterial life, and its Importance
cannot be overes mated. It is not
always available but it should be used
much more than it is, both for the
sick room and many household
objects that may be infected. 7Is
Many bacteria die out for want Of
moisture, upon which they depend
for living and growing. Damp, dirty
> corners are the abiding places OF
germs, but dry, clean, well aired and
sunlit rooms put many obstacles IN
the way of their development. By
It must not be thought, however,
F., that the agencies referred to are
sufficient for the destruction OF all
disease germs. They IRE valuable
helps in the work of disfnfection, but
other means must be used. The best
results are accomplished by limiting
as much as possible the spread OF
the infection from the patient. -a2ssre 5sssss.
| ~ oo1l1uS5 W0ICL 10 d bIS
disinfectant, and one half hours boil
, ing destroys all disease germs. Al
dishes used by the patient should be
: scalded, and all bedding, linen, etc.
. should be boiled
/ Keep the sick room well aired, let
ting in all the sunlight possible; KEEP
the dust down by using damp cloths
> for. busting; keep the room and al
a the objects used about the patient al
clean as possible; scald the dishes
3 boil the clothing, see that the hand
} of the attendants are frequentl,
washed, use the proper disinfectan
s. solutions as needed. When the pa
: tient has been removed, after thor
= ough bath. leave the room as it i
: until after the general disinfection
;. Then give it thorough houseclean
ing, wash off the woodwork, wip
i. down the walls, burn everything tina
Il can be spared, boil all the linen, han
the carpets and draperies, if any Gan
J. there should be none), out of doc,
. in the sun and air. Do not buy disir
fectants about which you kno,
!. nothing. Csc reliable germicidet
IS and with definite purpose. Abov
all keep everything clean.
a Another purpose for which dislnfee
s, tants are sometimes bought is to rid
d room or premises of pests, such g
a. feas, mosquitoes, cockroaches, bed
- bugs, rats and mice. For this purpos
a sulphur is excellent, being nor
a efficient than formaldehyde, whic
has omparatively little effect upo
rk these forms of animal life. Sulpht
e- is less effective for the destruction {
III germs, but itscan be depended upo
=, to destroy vermin. Powdered SD
III phur may be sprinkled about tt
nlacps yvboro fhpoa nQsts exist.