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When not provided with a proper spittoon, a consumptive psrson must
not spit into a handkerchief, but into a piece of rag or paper, which must
be burnt before the phlegm has dried.
Handkerchiefs, which may have been used of necessity, should, before
they dry, be boiled half an hour and then washed.
Consumptive persons must not swallow their phlegm, as, by so doing,
the disease may be conveyed to parts of the body not already affected.
A consumptive person must not kiss, or be kissed, on the mouth.
A consumptive person, when coughing, should always hold a handkerchief
in front of his mouth, and avoid coughing in the direction of another
person.
General precautions to be observed:—
All rooms occupied by consumptive persons should be as well lighted
and ventilated as possible. Fresh air, light, and sunshine are most
important preventives of consumption. It is not safe for a healthy person
to share a bedroom with a consumptive.
All utensils, such as knives, forks, spoons, cups, &c., should be reserved
for his special use and carefully washed in boiling water.
No chimney should ever be blocked up, and windows should be kept
open night and day.
Cleanliness and good sanitary surroundings are important, both for
the prevention and for the cure of consumption.
Instead of sweeping rooms, wet dusters must be used to wipe up the
dust on the floor, furniture, woodwork, &c., and must afterwards be boiled.
Tea leaves used 011 the floor should afterwards be burnt. Do not chase
dust about or stir it up.
Milk, especially that used for children and invalids, should be boiled
or sterilised. Meat should be well cooked.
A room which has been occupied by a consumptive should not be used
again until it has been thoroughly disinfected. In the event of a death
from consumption, advice should be sought from the local sanitary
authority.
ST. PANCRAS BOROUGH COUNCIL.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Pancras Road, N.W.
Pulmonary Phthisis (Consumption).
Societies and Institutions for Segregation.
Consumption is mainly spread by the germs in the spray of the cough and
the phlegm of the spit. The more the disease advances, and the more the
weakness of the patient increases, the greater the difficulty of preventing the
cough-spray and spit-phlegm from disseminating the disease. Hence the
most advanced cases are the most likely to spread the disease, and the poorest
advanced cases the least likely to be able to provide against the spread of the
disease.