. Preventive medicine and hygiene. ples and many of the details forthe prevention of plague have been stated in the foregoing pages, andneed not be repeated. Personal prophylaxis consists in avoiding the infected regions andguarding against flea bites. Physicians and nurses should rememberthat the pneumonic form of the disease is highly contagious in theordinary sense of the term. Attendants and persons who come in con-tact with such cases may protect themselves with Haffkines prophylac- 286 INSECT-BOENE DISEASES tic. Individual measures to guard against droplet infection, such as thewearing o
. Preventive medicine and hygiene. ples and many of the details forthe prevention of plague have been stated in the foregoing pages, andneed not be repeated. Personal prophylaxis consists in avoiding the infected regions andguarding against flea bites. Physicians and nurses should rememberthat the pneumonic form of the disease is highly contagious in theordinary sense of the term. Attendants and persons who come in con-tact with such cases may protect themselves with Haffkines prophylac- 286 INSECT-BOENE DISEASES tic. Individual measures to guard against droplet infection, such as thewearing of masks or veils of cheesecloth, may be resorted to. The bubonicand septicemic forms of the disease are not, as a rule, directly com-municable, and, therefore, the preventive measures recommended fortyphoid fever are effective. The ordinary germicidal solutions, such as bichlorid of mercury,1-1,000, carbolic acid, 2% per cent., formalin, 10 per cent., are effec-tive against the Bacillus pestis. Of the gaseous disinfectants sulphur. Fig. 45.—Isolated Plague-infested Center, Manila, P. I. dioxid is preferred, because it not only kills the frail plague bacillus,but also destroys rats, fleas, etc. Cases of plague should be isolated in a well-screened room other-wise free of insects. Fabrics and other objects which become contam-inated with the discharges should be thoroughly disinfected by propermethods. It is important to have prompt reports of all cases of suspectedplague, and the diagnosis must be confirmed by bacteriological meth-ods. In all plague centers there should be a special hospital and alsoa laboratory where diagnostic work may be carried on; this is an es-sential part of the equipment for a successful campaign. A travelinglaboratory organized like a flying squadron for quick service shouldbe provided to furnish this service wherever it may be demanded. TICKS 287 The prevention of plague, after all, is reduced to warfare againstrats and fleas. This has been fully dis
Size: 1779px × 1405px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorwh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecthygiene
