PERIL OF INFECTED HOUSES.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1923, Page 1

PERIL OF INFECTED HOUSES.

tßy a Medical Man). The graphic description by Robert Louis Stevenson of the decimating eliecls of the contagion of tuberculosis furnishes a remarkable object-lesson to he borne in mind in reference to the infected house case which has jii't been tried before Mr Justice Molardie. Stevenson in his voyage to the South Sea Islands came across the following experience :

In the Marquesas Islands there was a particular tribe which numbered about 100 persons. An epidemic ol small-pox broke out and reduced the population by one-fourth. Six months later a woman developed phthisis, and. he continues, the disease spread like a lire about the valley. In less than a year only two survivors remained, a man and a woman: they lied from the newlv created solitude.”

He alludes further to an instance in which a case of phthisis occurred in a household of seventeen persons; a few months later all of them had died of the 1 disease, except one, a boy who had heeii awav at school.

In providing again- 1 , the risk of Hie transmission of the contagion the first point to ):c remembered is the special characters of tlie- tubercle bacillus. Having regard to its destructive virulence everyone should he fully acquainted with these. Much of the prevalence of tuberculosis may be said to lie clue to the ignorance of its subtle power for evil and the neglect, of precautions to deal with it.

First, in tuberculosis of the lungs the contagion is contained, in nearly all cases, in the expeel oral ion. This should l.e coughed up and passed directly into a receptacle containing some water, or, preferably, an antiseptic solution. For two reasons this is essential—to prevent the bacillus from passing into a dried state and to destroy it. When allowed to dry the bacillus becomes mingled with dust, and whenever the dust is disturbed and afterwards settles the contagion is also conveyed with it. Thus in dusting the room of a tuberculous patient moist dusters should be used.

Again, handkerchiefs and indeed all •clothes and bed linen of which use Ims been made bv phthisical persons, should he allowed to soak in a strong antiseptic solution. As a safeguard in Hie eoinniuniiy generally, phthisical iiersons, when travelling in a tram, omnibus, nr any oilier conveyance employed bv the public, should never cough openly, but into, sav, a piece of Japanese paper, which can afterwards be burnt. Another point to be remembered is to destroy by burning in the lire the contents of the receptacles into which the expectoration has been passed.