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THE DISINFECTION OF HOOKS.
The Articles to be Disinfected.
A book consists of outside covers, edges, and back, and inside leaves. The
inside leaves are so numerous and so closely adherent to each other that it is
impossible to guarantee disinfection between each of the leaves. If a book
has actually been used by an infected patient it is possible that there may be
some infection between the leaves in one or more places, whereas if the book
has only been standing or lying on a shelf or table and has not been opened or
read in an infected room it is improbable that there will be any infection
between the leaves. The covers and edges of a book are easily accessible for
disinfection, but the accessibility of the back depends upon its construction.
The more closely the back of the cover of the book is adherent to the back of
the folded leaves where they are sewn or wired, the less chance there will be
of the access of infection, but if the back of the cover is unattached to the back
of the leaves then infection may obtain access between the two.
The Process of Disinfection.
It is obvious that the mode of disinfection of books must depend upon the
mode of infection.
(a) If a book has been actually used by a patient when suffering from an
infectious disease, the only certain manner of reaching the infection and
dealing with it effectually is to destroy the book by fire.