The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-12-03
Historical DisinfectiOn.

Fighting phantom!
It's useless. So is much OF the DIS
infection that follows disease. I'm
professional men and women-most OF
them-have an unwarranted fear OF
the apartment that has recently been
occupied by the patient with an m
fcctious disease. The demand Is
made upon the health authorities for
an immediate and official disinfectlon,
for somehow the idea has a strong
hold upon the unsuspecting public
ItLst there is a mysterious potancy IN
what these official cleaners do and
that through them, lies the only way
+ to safety. Of course caution is wise
and, being ignorant, by all means send
for somebody who is not as ignorant
as you.
But, here's a good thing to re-
member-the bright sun and clear,
fresh air are the two best dlslntecG-
tants. Unlike formaldehyde, they do
not have to be-they cannot be used
under pressure in. tightly sealed
room. Unlike sulphur, they do not
discolor delicate fabrics.
There are good reasons for this
strong claim for sunshine and air,
and they have been proved out by
medical science, which, as usual, has
found that the simplest things are
generally the most efficient.
Eminent scientists have been de-
voting a good deal Of time in the last
few years to the origin OF diseases,
mot only to the germs that cause dis
eases, but to study of how these
germs get into the human system and
make all the troubles they do. And
shown several significant facts.
First-The life of the bacilli, the
causes of various diseases, within
which they can be harmful, is very
short, especially in the presence of
sun and air, from few moments to
a few hours. Once dead, their pow"
err for harm is gone.
Second-These germs are not car
ried in the air to infect new victims,
and by this is meant that such germs
do not saturate the air of the sick
room so that the person breathing
this air may possibly become infected
with the particular disease.
Third-Disease germs are not car
ried in dust particles to the injury of
the person unaffected. To breathe
dust-laden air is unpleasant, but it is
mot deadly.
Fourth-Disease is carried fpom
one person to another by contact and
by contact alone. In contact, as used
by the medical profession, is included
the transference of the germ of ty-
phoid by the fly, that Of malaria and
yellow fever by the mosquito, that of
bubonic plague by the flea, that of
typhus fever by the louise, and other
diseases by insect carriers. The work
also includes the expulsion of certain
disease germs from the mouth or
nose of the patient by coughing, snee-
ling. forced breathing and even by
talking, which in this way, may be
transferred to the other person who
may be near enough to eaten the
spray from such more or less violent
expulsion, the particular disease from
which the first person is suffering. 1t
covers also the possible transference
of disease germs on the clothing,
hands or person Of the careless Nurse,
who nay soon thereafter cone close
to another unL1ected human being.
The few exceptions to theca four
deductions are so rare as 10 hc ne
eligible AMI even the few might he
found within the limits Of he rules
Iif all lc circumstances "oGat be I"-
curately known. The full life history
of Tie tubefcular germ !" lot known,
but the balance Of evidence accepted
by medical authorities shows that it
is governed by these rules, which are
summed up by DR.. Charles V. Chaplin,
Health Officer of Providence, r. l., in
these words: There is little evidence
that among the diseases which com
monty occupy our attention in this
part of the world, aerial transmission
is a factor of Importance. In most
| it is under ordinary conditions OF
home and hospital, negligible factor
! For tuberculosis alone there is evl-
dence that air-borne infection is a
factor Of moment, but the last word
/ has not been said as to the etiology
iof this disease-The notion that dust
lis a dangerous vehicle Of every day
infection is unsupported and that
mouth spray is usually effective only
lat short distances"
With these facts accepted by those
who know best and have studied deep
lest, the ordinary methods of disinfec-
ton become unnecessary and hysterl-
cal.
The room previously occupied by
the pneumonia or the tubereular pa
ttient, for example should at once be
iopened to the freest possible circula-
ton Of outdoor air. The bedding,
clothing, the draperies and rugs OF
the room should be exposed to the di-
rect rays Of the bright sun, and the
walls and woodwork of the room care.
fully and thoroughly cleaned Of al
dust, and then, air, more air. Two
or three days of such exposure will
remove all possibility of infection
quite as thoroughly-perhEps even
more so-as the more expensive for
maldehyde or sulphur or other germ
icide treatment.
A kind Providence has put within
the immediate and promptest reach
Of all the best germicide protection
against infection, and all that usual
" is lacking is the sense to use it