The Home Nurse's Handbook of Practical Nursing

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ...Describe some methods of overcoming difliculty in getting food or medicine taken by a sick child.-CHAPTER XIX. HOUSEHOLD DISINFECTANTS, AND HOW TO USE THEM. Demonstration and Practice Work.--Making and labelling of disinfectant solutions. In every home that is kept in a sanitary, healthy condition some household disinfectants are needed. The term disinfectant may not be used but the custom of making use of some disinfectants is general in every well kept home. A disinfectant is a substance that kills all germs that have power to infect or cause disease. We learned in a previous lesson something about germs and will remember that there are good and bad germs. All germs are not infectious, or disease, germs. Some infectious germs are much harder to kill than others. An antiseptic is a substance that prevents the growth of germs but does not necessarily kill them. Natural Disinfectants.--Without knowing exactly why she does so, except that it is healthier the housewife puts bedding, clothing, etc., out to sun and air them. Experiments with different kinds of germs have shown that exposure to bright sunshine for a few hours is one of the best ways of killing a great many kinds of germs. Letting the sunlight flood the room helps to check the growth of germs of all kinds. Dampness favors the growth of germs and therefore, sunlight by drying out a room, helps to keep it free from infectious germs. Soap and water also are important aids in this work. The housewife who uses soap and water liberally in every part of her home, admits the sunshine freely, and prevents dampness, has done much to keep it healthy. Heat.--Boiling is one of the easiest and best of all ways of killing disease germs, and wherever boiling can be used without...