THE SPREAD OF CONTAGION
It is possible to "stamp out" any known disease if only proper cooperation takes place and certain sanitary regulations are maintained. It is within the memory of most of our readers when yellow fever was put to flight and the cause of malaria discovered. We learned to screen our camps and no longer did our soldiers contract the fever; while the simple covering of stagnant pools with oil, together with proper screenage, stopped the ravages of malaria.
Likewise, many of the woeful tragedies of infant summer diarrhea and dysenteries have been tracked to the so-called "innocent house fly." We have all learned—only recently—that if we move the manure pile once in seven days the hatching of the maggots may be prevented, and so millions, yes trillions, of these carriers of disease may never be born.
If there is one sweet morsel above another for this fly pest it is tubercular sputum or feces, and from these feasts they go directly to walk over baby's hands, crawl over his cheek, and wash their feet in his milk. Proper screenage will prevent such contamination of food, such opportunities for carrying disease.
Sunshine, hot water, soap, and fresh air, are the best ordinary every-day disinfectants. It is possible so to conduct the treatment of a contagious or infectious disease that no other member of the family may contract it. A few simple but very important hints are:
1. Door knobs are one of the very greatest avenues of contagion—disinfect them.
2. Cleanse the hands both before and after attending to the sick; first, scrub with stiff brush, soap and water, then dip in alcohol.
3. An epidemic of sore eyes may be stopped by absolute "hand disinfection" and using separate towels.
4. Do not go visiting when you have a "common cold."
5. Kissing is one of the best ways of spreading many diseases.
6. In cases of contagious and infectious diseases completely cover all excretions from the body with lime.
7. Country homes would be as healthy as city homes if the privies and stables were screened.
8. In the country, the well water should be boiled; one infected well may be the cause of the death of a score of beautiful children.