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19
Difficulties of Thorough Disinfection.
In the process of disinfection it must be remembered that the object
is to destroy all traces of the living poison.
When heat is applied as a disinfectant, every article of the poison
should be heated to the required temperature.
Consequently linen, or solids, or liquids containing any solid articles
should be boiled for at least half an hour; since it takes some time to
raise the temperature of every part of the linen or solid particle up to
that of the boiling water.
When disinfecting solutions are used, the solution must be of
sufficient strength and must be applied for sufficient time to ensure
complete destruction of all the living bacilli.
For this reason it is necessary to soak infected linen for at least four
hours in the disinfecting solution, since the solution does not penetrate
the whole of the linen for a considerable time.
For the same reason it is necessary to soak discharges from the
bowel, containing even small particles, with the disinfecting solution for
at least three hours before emptying these discharges into the drain. Any
solid lumps in the discharges should be broken up and well mixed with
the disinfecting solution : for which purpose two pieces of stick may be
used ; and these pieces should be burnt immediately after being used.
Thorough disinfection of the hands is extremely difficult. It is not
sufficient merely to dip them in disinfecting solution. In addition to this
the hands, and more especially the spaces under the nails, must be
thoroughly scrubbed with soap and water.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Forty deaths were attributed to Phthisis or Tuberculosis. This
disease which causes the tremendous mortality of 60,000 per annnm in
England and Wales is very largely preventable, and attention has been
drawn to the urgent necessity which exists for adopting measures that
are calculated to diminish this appalling waste of health and life and the
misery and expense which it entails.