Flies carry sputum and its infection to food, to your hands, your face, clothes, the baby's bottle, from which the germs are taken into the mouth, and thus gain access to the stomach or lungs.
Spitting on the sidewalk, on the floor, on the wall, on the grass, in the gutter, or even into a cuspidor containing no disinfectant is a very dangerous practice for a consumptive to indulge.
The person infected with tuberculosis should protect himself, his family, his associates and the public by not spitting in public places, and by promptly destroying all discharges.
The well person should defend himself by insisting that the tuberculous person shall destroy all discharges.
Well persons should set the example of restraint and themselves refrain from spitting promiscuously. A person may appear quite healthy and yet be developing tuberculosis without knowing it.
Such a person, if he spits where he pleases, may be depositing infected sputum where it can endanger the health and lives of other persons.
Do not sleep with a person who has tuberculosis, nor in the room occupied by a tuberculous person, until that room has been thoroughly disinfected.
[INFECTIOUS DISEASES 217]
Any person is liable to contract tuberculosis, whether he is well or not. Sickly persons, or those having bad colds, influenza bronchitis or pneumonia or any general weakness are much more liable to contract tuberculosis than a perfectly well or robust person. If you have a cough that hangs on consult at once a reliable physician who has ability to diagnose tuberculosis.
Prevention is possible; it is cheaper and easier than cure.