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If treated at home the patient must be confined to one room,
and no one except the person in charge allowed to enter the room.
All unnecessary furniture should be removed from the sick room
forthwith, and the floor and furniture 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
outer clothes before going off duty.
No domestic animal should be allowed to enter the sick room.
A patient suffering from this disease is generally dangerous to
others for 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.
Disinfection.
1.—All soiled linen should be at once 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, or 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 Council
undertake the disinfection of the sick room, bedding, &c., 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 Sanitary Inspector, Council Offices, New Maiden,
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 a.m
RASHELL DAVISON, M.D., M.R.C.S.,
Medical Officer of Health.
A penalty of £5 is attached to the exposure of infected persons
and things.