The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-08-06
PRECAUTIONS TO
BE OBSERVED
Dangers of tuberculosis BY Con-
tagi0n
BY BOARD OF HEALTH

~ ~
structed consumptive, who is not
helpless, is a safe member of the
household. Such a one will instinct
lively avoid exposing others to infec-
ton by the observance of certain
precautions and the avoidance of
unnecessary personal contact, espec-
tally with young children. On the
other hand a careless. u~ninstructed
or INSCRIPTIONS person, with an open
t~uberculous lesion, is a constant
source of danger to and about him.
Invalids whose disease has pro-
gressed so far as to make them com
paratively helpless are also a source
of danger, however we'll inten-
toned they may be, although in such
cases the danger zone is, by reason
of their close confinement, much
more circumscribed. 1t occasionally
happens that through a mistaken
sense of kindness or dehcacv healthy
members of a family fail to insist
upon carrying out of proper precau.
tons for fear of hurting the feelings
of the invalid, even when the latter
is really anxious to conform to the
necessary rules of safety. In such
cases. of course, the same dangers
exist As with the careless consump-
tive. Following are the simple rules
and safe guards to prevent infection:
/. All sputum and other ~excretion
arising from or coming in contact
with a possible disease focus must
be deposited in a suitable receptacle.
which can be easily and thoroughly
cleansed and steralized or, prefer
ably. burned.
2 Since the droplets of mucus
and saliva expelled by the acts of
coughing, sneezing. and in some in
stances, laughing and talking. are
known frequently to contain tubercle
bacllli and are consequently capable
of conveying infection. A gauze or
paper handkerchief should be. held
before the mouth always when
coughing and sneezing. and in the
cases of certain individuals. when
talking or laughing. and such gauze
or paper handkerchief properly col
lected and burned.
3. Tooth picks, fruit cores, cigars
and cigarette butts and all other ar
ticles coming in contact with the
mouth must be deposited with the
sputum and destroyed with the lat
ter.
a. The use of a tooth brush and
antiseptic mouth wash and gargIe at
least two or three times daily, is
strongly recommended. They should
be used over a vessel intended for
the purpose. and never over a wash
basin or bath tub.
5. The hands and face should be
frequently washed with warm water
and soap and the nails kept short
and clean.
g.. Men are advised to shave the
beard and mustache, or at least to
wear them clipped short, to prevent
the Judgement or retention of parti-
cles of sputum thereon.
These rules apply to the patients
themselves. There are other duties
which devolve upon the attendant
or housekeeper.
Dishes and eating utensils should
be washed in hot water and soap,
immersed in boiling water and kept
separate from the other dishes.
Bedding and personal clothing
should be frequently subjected to
sterilization by neat.
Laundry should not be put in the
general wash. until it has been car-
bolized, subject to live steam or
boiling water or otherwise dislnfect-
ed.
Sweeping and busting. Do not
use dry sweeping, if the floor is
covered with carpet. and a vacuum
cleaner Is not available. the carpet
should be moistened, preferably
with an antiseptic solution and a wet
broom used. In the Ease of a bare
floor it should be wiped with a damp
cloth The use of a feather buster
is Objectionable. remove the dust by
damp dus ting cloth.
By observing these rules the dan
ger of infection is much lessened.
S. r. w.