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such dust can settle. It is in these ways that consumption is
usually spread from an infected person to a healthy one. The
infected person can also in such manner re-infect himself and
retard his cure, and make his disease much worse.
1. Always spit, (a) when in the house, into an earthenware
cup or similar receptacle, at the bottom of which there is a
little disinfectant solution; (b) when out of doors, into a suitable
spit-bottle, carried for this purpose. The cup and spit-bottle
must be cleansed at least once a day with disinfectant solution,
and the contents emptied down the w.c.
2. A handkerchief should be held in front of the mouth
when coughing. This handkerchief should be carried in a
waterproof pocket, and nothing but the handkerchief must be
put into the pocket. The pocket should be sponged frequently
with disinfectant solution. The handkerchief should be
soaked in disinfectant, and afterwards boiled. A clean handkerchief
should be used every day.
3. The patient's room should be kept scrupulously clean,
all dust being removed daily with a duster damped in disinfectant
solution. The woodwork and floor should be washed
once a week.
4. The patient should have a separate bed and bedroom.
The furniture, &c., should be as simple as possible, and no
bed-hangings, curtains and carpets and the like should be
allowed.