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From the privy or the drain, the poison often soaks into the
well, and infects the drinking water. This last, when it happens,
is of all forms of fever poisoning the most deadly. In these
various ways, the infection proceeding from the bowel-discharges
often spreads the fever far and wide. The one great thing to
aim at, therefore, is to disinfect these discharges on their very
escape from the body, and before they are carried from the sick
room. This may be perfectly done by the use of disinfectants.
One of the best is made of green copperas. This substance,
which is used by all shoemakers, is very cheap, and may be had
everywhere. A pound and a half of green copperas to a gallon of
water is the proper strength. A teacupful of this liquid, put into
the night-pan every time before it is used by the patient, renders
the bowel-discharge perfectly harmless. To disinfect the bed
and body-linen, and bedding generally, chloride of lime or Mac
Dougall's powder is more convenient. These powders should be
sprinkled by means of a common dredger, on soiled spots on the
linen and about the room to purify the air. All articles of bed
and body linen should be plunged, immediately on their removal
from the bed, into a bucket of water containing a tablespoonful
of chloride of lime or MacDougall's powder, and should be boiled
before being washed. The privy, or closet, and all drains commucating
with it, should be flushed twice daily with the green
copperas liquid or carbolic acid, diluted with water. In the
event of death, the body should be placed, the body should be
possible, in a coffin surrounded with charcoal, sprinkled
with disinfectants. Early burial is on all accounts, desirable,
In towns and villages where the fever is already
prevalent, the last rule should be put in force for all houses,
whether there be fever in them or not, and for all public drains.
As the hands of those attending on the sick often become
unavoidably soiled by the discharges from the bowels, they
should be frequently washed. The sick-room should be kept
well ventilated, day and night. The greatest possible care
should be taken with regard to the drinking water. Where
there is the slightest risk of its having become tainted with
fever-poison, water should be got from a pure source, should or