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(6) An infectious disease, the visitor should point out the
necessity for isolation in order to prevent the spread of the disease ;
the removal to hospital if it is a notifiable disease ; the exclusion of
children of the same family from school, and, on recovery, the
disinfection or destruction of any articles likely to be infective; and
generally, to urge the adoption of all recognised hygienic measures
to prevent the spread of infectious disease, or to diminish their
fatality.
If a case of consumption exists in the house visited, the visitor
should advise the patient as to the steps which should be taken in
the interests of the sufferer and other persons in the house. Special
attention should be given to the ventilation of the room occupied by
the sick person, the importance of sleeping alone, and the scalding
of cups, &c., after being used by the patient, and the proper
treatment of the sputa. The occasional disinfection of the patient's
room, bedding and clothes, should be advised and offered.
During the summer and autumn months, the visitor must be
prepared to warn, on every suitable occasion, against those things
which promote infant diarrhoea, such as:—
(a) Foul smells from drains, sinks, want of cleanliness of
gullies, &c., or from decaying refuse.
(b) The contamination of food by its storage in unsuitable,
unventilated, and ill.smelling places.
(c) Stale or decaying food, especially meat, fruit, vegetables, and
milk. This last is most important in connection with the feeding of
infants.
3. To advise parents, and other responsible persons, on the proper
feeding and care of infants.
The visitor should enquire whether the infant is fed artificially, or
by the mother. If the former, and the mother is healthy, she should
point out the immense superiority of maternal to artificial feeding.
If hand feeding must be adopted, the visitor should advise the mother