Instructions for disinfection : based on the circular of the National Board of Health / Connecticut State Board of Health, 1884.
- Connecticut. State Board of Health
- Date:
- 1884
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Instructions for disinfection : based on the circular of the National Board of Health / Connecticut State Board of Health, 1884. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.
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![/* <\ I HI«OfMCtt 1J] 6 copperas solution, or when this is impracticable, should be imme- diately covered with copperas solution. All vessels used about the patient should be cleansed with the same solution. The solution of bichloride of mercury is advisable in case of cholera or the prevalence of an epidemic. One advantage of the copperas solution is that it fills so many purposes, hence not so many different solutions are required; it is unqualifiedly recommended. The disinfectant solution should be added to the water with which the patient has been bathed before the water is thrown away. Unnecessary furniture, especially that which is stuffed, carpets and hangings, should, when possible, be removed from the room at the outset; otherwise, they should remain for subsequent fumigation and treatment. 2. Fumigation with sulphur is the only practicable method for disinfecting the house. For this purpose, the rooms to be disinfected must be vacated. Heavy clothing, blankets, bedding, and other articles which cannot be treated with the zinc solution, ' should be opened and exposed during fumigation, as directed below. Close the rooms as tightly as possible, place the sulphur in iron pans supported upon bricks placed in wash tubs containing a little water, set it on fire by hot coals or with the aid of a spoon- ful of alcohol, and allow the room to remain closed for twenty-four hours. For a room about ten feet square, at least two pounds of sulphur should be used,—that is, two pounds for every thousand cubic feet of air space; for larger rooms, proportionately increased quantities. If the room is large the sulphur should be put in sev- eral places in separate vessels. The room should not be too cold. After fumigation the room should be thoroughly aired at least twelve hours. The fumes of burning sulphur cannot be breathed. In case of an epidemic or malignant sickness, the woodwork of the room may be re-painted. If there be any wall paper it may be removed and burned, and the ceiling whitewashed or kal- somined. 3. Premises. Cellars, yards, stables, gutters, privies, cesspools, water-closets, drains, sewers, etc., should be frequently and liberally treated with the copperas solution. The copperas solution is easily prepared by hanging a basket containing about sixty pounds of copperas in a barrel of water. The frequent use of this solution in privies and water-closets is advised, especially in summer.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21011308_0006.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
