The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1914-04-09
plRT AND AEALTH



. doesn't need the information. She urg-
|. II s the advice upon her children as soon
las they graduate from her arms to a more
independent existence. Her hostility 70
what she considers dirt is instructive
land Incomes an obsession. The equally
lpowerful instinct of the child, particular
" 81 the boy. to accumulate dirt Is one Of
the exasperating trials of her life. Yet
most mothers and housekeepers would be
insulted If they were informed that cir
e strcnuousness against dirt is often like
straining at a gnat and swallowing a
camel In other words, some dirt is
4, dirtier than other varieties and very Of
. ten their war is urged against the less
harmless kinds.
Black mud, the kind that sticks to the
shoes and Is tracked over clean floors.
isn't particularly dangerous. only insight
ly and inconvenient. aeon washed away
and leaving no harm behind, excepting
to the disturbed temper. The dirt that
cares the germ OF infection is the
harmful kind, greatly to be dreaded, es-
pecially because it hides in inaccessible
places. hard to get to at. but too often
! very quickly and easily stirred up and
made dangerous by sudden draft Of air
blowing in at the open window.
| There Is the dirt, another name for
the exhalation Of sputum that issues
! from the mouths and nostrials Of persons
suffering from influenza, and ordinary
cold. diphtheria. tuberculosis and other
germ carried disease The danger from
such exhalations is in the presence of
the disease and the time for precaution
is while the disease is active. The same
is true Of measles, scarlet fever and 9TH
4 err skin or blood diseases Usually the
Health authorities are called upon to flu
| migate the room in which tubercular
\ patient has been nursed and where, per-
haps. he has died. While such action
is desirable, it is attackink the problem
4 at the wrong place. because the germs of
1.-The disease are not long lived after they
have been expelled from the patients
lungs, II exposed to the open air and sun
hight SO far as any real danger Of in
lection Is concerned it would be quite
as effective II the room were aired tho
|roughly cleaned with soap and water,
to which per cent lysoI can be added
on account OF mucous which may contain
tubercle bacill
The germs of cerebro- spinal mening-
tits are short lived; those of diphtheria
are active for longer period.b but in each
case the greater danger is in the pres
ence of the disease more than the walls
of the room In which patient was con-
fined.
The kind of dirt-for this is fairly de-
scriptive name--is insidious. 1t is pour
ed forth in the exhalations of the patti
ent;s.it floats in the air In the form Of
a fine spray when patient coughs; 1t may
find lodging in the clothing, on the walls
and movable articles In the sick room,
but is very short lived under such con-
I, lditions. The germs of tuberculosis are
carried in the sputum and they contain
mate whatever Is touched by 1t. The
danger in the presence of these diseases
to the doctors, nurses and attendants Is
: n real one, and by them the infection
may be carried to others outside the
patients room.
There is considerable list Of infecti-
/ GUS diseases that are usually regarded
r as unimportant, such as measles mumps
! and others, that are supposed to belong
l particularly to the period of childhood.
. Some wise mothers regard them as a
i necessary evil which every child has to
) have sooner or later, and the particular
anxiety is that the children shall catch"
them when household or society affairs
/, make it least inconvenient to nurse the
little patients.
|, But these Affections, however mystic
) rious their intrusion upon the household
economy, are not necessary. Children
: don't have to have them; they are dan
gerous. some of them quite as danger
! GUS in their possible after effects as DUR
ling the actual continuance of the disease.
!, They are to be guarded against from OUT
i side sources as well as preventing their
I spread from one child to another in the
\ same family.
n And 1t is to be accomplished only by
e AM amending fight against germs, against
9 germ-carrying dirt.
ell All handkerchefs and towels, clothing
: bedding dishes and utensils used by the
c patient should be kept and washed sep
arately from those used by others, and
!, afterward they should be sterilizcd. How
}. this should be done can be learned from
the attending physician. The important
facts to be impressed upon the housekeep-
: err are that such sterilizing should be-
: must be- done for the protection of 9TH
q ers anu chat it should be done thorough
n Fly. No. real precaution is too simple
: or too complicated to be forgotten or left
d out. 1t is the price of health, perhaps
If life itself.
!. Dirt masquerades under many different
" DISCUSSES in every home. The fight aga
Is inst It to be effective, must be intelligent.
v Every home-keeper and home-maker
n should know where and how to meet and
combat this enemy of good health In
whatever form it appears--State Board
2 OF Health.