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110
If treated at home the patient must be confined to one room, and
no one except the person in charge alloived to enter the room. All
unnecessary furniture should be removed from the sick room forthwith,
and the floor and furniiure should be frequently wiped with a damp
cloth. Fresh air must be freely admitted, a fire being lighted if
necessary.
Attendants should wear washable dresses, should wash their hands
immediately after attending the sick person, and should always wash
their hands and faces and change their shoes and other clothes before
going off duty.
No domestic animal should he allowed to enter the sick room.
A patient suffering from this disease is generally DANGEROUS
TO OTHERS for a period of at least Three Weeks, and must not be
allowed to mix with other people during that period, or while there is
any sore throat, or any discharge from ear or nose, or while diphtheria
germs can be detected in the throat.
Examinations for the detection of diphtheria germs are made at
the Borough Labatory, free of cost. The necessary arrangements
will be made by your Medical Attendant,
disinfection.
1.—All soiled linen should at once be placed in a tub of water to
which a handful of ordinary washing soda has been added, soaked for
12 hours, and then boiled in a copper. Materials which cannot be
boiled should be soaked for one hour in liquid disinfectant, and then
washed.
2.—Special cups, saucers and spoons should be used for the
patient, and any spare food from the sick room destroyed.
3.—Discharges from ear, nose and mouth should be received on
a rag, which should be at once burnt, as also should any dust collected
in the room.
4. —When the patient is free from infection, the Corporation
undertake the disinfection of the sick room, bedding, etc., free of cost.
The accompanying card should be returned when the patient is free
from infection.
Disinfectants are supplied free to home cases once a week on
application to the Public Health Department, Town Hall, between
he hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Saturdays 9 a.m. till 1 p.m.)
H. MERIDITH RICHARDS, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Croydon.
A penalty of £5 is attached to the exposure of infected persons and
things,