View report page

126
chief means by which consumption is spread from one person to
another, and especially to those predisposed to the disease. Destroy
the germs, and consumption will not spread. There is, practically, no
risk of taking the disease from the breath of a consumptive person, and
there is no objection—if proper precautions are taken—to a consumptive
person being closely attended upon by a healthy person, who, moreover,
may share the same bedroom but should not sleep in the same
bed.
PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED BY
CONSUMPTIVE PERSONS.
For the protection of their own families, and to prevent the spread of the
disease to other persons, the following precautions should be taken by all who are
suffering from consumption.
Do not spit about the house or workplace, nor on the floor of any cab, omnibus,
tram-car, railway carriage, or other conveyance, nor in theatres,
concert-rooms, or other public meeting-places. Spitting about the
streets, or in other way than as suggested below, is a dangerous habit.
Spit only into a covered cup, spittoon, or bottle, kept for the purpose, and
containing water, to which a little disinfectant fluid should be added.
Out-of-doors a small wide-mouthed bottle, with a well-fitting cork,
should be used; or a pocket spittoon, which may be obtained through
any chemist and druggist.
When a proper vessel is not at hand, or for wiping the mouth, a rag or a piece
of paper, which can be burned, should be used, and not a handkerchief;
but if a handkerchief is used, it should be kept wet until it can be put
into boiling water and wished.
The spit, if collected in a cup, bottle, or spittoon, should be carefully
destroyed by being put on a clear fire. This is the simplest, quickest,
and safest way of destroying the disease germs, and it should be done
night and morning at least.
When there is no fire, wash the spit, at least twice a day, into the watercloset,
or bury it in the earth.
The spit-vessel, after emptying, must be soaked and well washed in boiling
water.
Do not swallow the coughed-up spit, as by so doing tubercular disease may be
set up in the bowels and other parts of the body.
A consumptive person should not kiss, or be kissed on the mouth.
A consumptive mother should not suckle her child,