The choice of method must be governed by the character of the articles about to be sterilised. Linen which is to be boiled later may be soaked for twelve hours before removal from the sick-room in a 5 per cent. solution of cresol soap, or wrapped in cloths saturated in a solution of carbolic acid. Before throwing the dejecta into the toilet, they should be mixed with a solution of carbolic acid or with several spoonfuls of chloride of lime, and allowed to stand for twenty minutes. Vomited matter must be similarly treated. For disinfecting the water after a body bath, in a case of typhoid or other disease, four tablespoonfuls of chloride of lime are necessary. When this has been used, all metallic vessels must be thoroughly rinsed off with water ; otherwise they are liable to be attacked by the chlorine-gas. Any soiling of the toilet seat should be carefully cleansed with soft soap. Furs and leather goods cannot be disinfected with live steam ; they should be thoroughly aired, and may then be treated with one of the disinfecting solutions. Great importance attaches to the careful cleansing of the hands after having touched the patient or any objects with which he may have come in contact. They should be scrubbed with soap and plenty of warm water for at least five minutes, then rinsed, and finally immersed for from five to ten minutes in lysol or in a r per cent. sublimate solution. Especial care should be given to the cleansing of the nails. Rings must be removed and scrubbed, particularly on their inner surface. Personal infection may thus be avoided in many cases.
A very convenient mode of disinfecting the sick-chamber, together with the objects it contains, is by means of formalise vapour. This is done as follows. All openings, as windows, keyholes, cracks of the doors, etc., are carefully sealed with cotton rags, strips of gummed paper, or adhesive plaister. Draperies and similar articles are spread out so as to expose the greatest amount of surface. The closets are opened, and the bed taken
apart. The apparatus for evaporating the formaline, of witch there are a number in the market, is then placed on a table in the centre of the room ; a vessel filled with water should also be provided, with a spirit lamp under neath, so that the room may become saturated with the vapour. The door of the room is then carefully closed, and kept so for seven to ten hours. The vapours from the formaline and the water become thoroughly mixed in the closed apartment, and the bacteria on the contained objects are all killed off. At the expiration of the required time, all the windows of the room are opened, and left so from three to five hours, until all trace of the formaline vapour has disappeared.
DISLOCATION.—The displacement of one or more bones of a joint. When, following a rent in the capsule of the joint, the bony surfaces are so much protruded that they do not return into proper position of their own accord, the result is a dislocation. Dislocations should be treated only by a physician, who knows the normal position of the joints. It is necessary at times to administer a chloroform anaesthetic to effect a reduction. The sooner the reduction is undertaken the easier it is achieved. The layman should not meddle with these conditions. The only aid he can render is to place the dislocated limb in a position which gives the least pain.
The various quacks and natural bonesetters, so popular in certain locali ties, cause much harm, as they are often unable to recognise the exact nature of the injury. They have often mistaken and treated fractures for sprains, and dislocations for rheumatism, their treatment resulting in the partial or total inability of the patient to continue his livelihood. It is therefore wise to call in a competent physician in every case of injury.