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12
BOROUGH OF KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES.
PREVENTION OF CONSUMPTION.
Consumption is a germ disease, and in England causes
one in every ten deaths.
This disease is not inherited, but some persons are by
constitution more liable to contract the disease than others.
Such persons should follow out-door occupations and
feed well on fatty foods, but avoid alcohol. They may go
out in all weathers, provided care is taken to avoid chills
from damp clothing.
Persons affected with this disease spread the infection by
means of the spit. The disease is also spread by milk, and,
possibly, by meat, but in such cases, mostly children, the
bowels are affected.
The spit is comparatively harmless when moist, but when
dry the germs are freely distributed by the air and will readily
infect persons who are rendered liable to contract this disease
through general ill-health, overcrowding, intemperance, bad
air, dampness, &c.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN.
Fresh air and sunlight should be freely admitted to
rooms occupied by persons with Consumption, or liable to
the disease. They are the best disinfectants.
When indoors a Consumptive person should use a
spitting cup containing water and some disinfectant, or cheap
handkerchiefs may be used that can afterwards be burnt.
Never spit on the footpath, or in trams, omnibus or
other public conveyance, or in any church, theatre or public
place. If possible spit into a bottle carried for this purpose,
or into a street gully.
The contents of spitting cups and bottles should be
emptied down the w.c.