Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/156

trifling precaution, is, in reality, of great importance. For instance, a mother who is attending one child with fever, and directly after handling, dressing, lifting, or otherwise touching the patient, she goes from the room and picks up her baby, or touches any other member of the family, she may impart to them to them the germs of the fever. These may not develope for nine days afterwards, but, all the same she will have carried them. But if she cleanses her hands in Condy’s fluid, she minimises the danger. For my own part, I do not think an attendant can be too particular in cases of typhoid, far it is such a terrible disease. In the first place, when nursing fever patients, I never left the sick room without divesting myself of all the clothes I wore in there, and putting on (after a bath in which Condy’s fluid was used) clean linen, &c., which had all been held over sulphur fumes, and I wore nothing but cotton. Woollen materials, I believe, are more liable to carry infection. I wore my hair gathered under a calico cap. All bed clothes, soiled clothing, &c., were boiled in water in which there was chloride of lime. Food, drinks, &c., were all handed through a window. All excrement from the patient was burnt at once, and I would impress upon all who have the charge of typhoid patients that they cannot be to particular in this matter. The neglect of this precaution is the cause of most cases where households have two or more patients ill with the same disease. There is no use of burning it half an hour later, or even ten minutes after; it must be done at once. My plan for doing this was a very simple one. An old oil or nail drum is kept outside the window, just at a distance where it would not be offensive; put the excrement into this on a pile of dry leaves and pieces of short wood, which have had a little kerosene over them, then pour a little more kerosene over the whole and set light to it. It will all burn away without any trouble. But do it yourself, do not trust to another; it is an unpleasant duty and therefore they may shirk it. Rinse out all utensils with Condy’s fluid; or make a mixture of the following in a wine bottle:—two ounces of sugar of lead and two ounces of nitric acid (fluid ounces), shake it well, and it will then be ready for use. A few drops of this poured into any utensils that is offensive will cleanse it. For removing offensive odours from the room, a clean cloth moistened with the mixture diluted with a little water can be suspended at the foot of the bed for a few moments, and all smells will go. Nothing stale must be allowed to remain in a sick room, neither drink, food, nor anything at all. Many people are fond of having a small table beside the bed with cooling drink ready for the patient. It is much the best plan to let it stand in another room. Another matter I am very particular about myself is to have no unnecessary vallances and hangings; they all catch and retain the disease. Dresses hanging about,