Keeping Family Healthy While Living with Tuberculosis Patient, Sept. 24, 1925

Living with TB Without Danger

Sanatorium, September 11—There are a few simple precautions and sanitary rules that persons living with a tuberculosis patient himself may follow that will make TB of no more danger than a well person. When a TB and those who care for him follow these rules, an unreasonable fear of the person suffering with tuberculosis is foolish.

Infections by the tubercle bacillus comes almost exclusively from the sputum of the tuberculosis patient. So the safe disposition of the sputum of the patient is one of the most important precautions. Never spit except in a sputum cup which can be burned. Covering the mouth with a rag, piece of gauze or a paper napkin when the patient coughs or sneezes is the next big rule. Don’t use the bare hand. The fine spray in which the germs live will be spread all over it If sputum is accidentally spilled, cover it with disinfectant, let stand for a while, wipe up with a rag and burn the rag.

In disinfecting the room of a TB, formaldehyde candles may be used. Every article in the room hung in the sunshine for three days is fully as good Disinfect or boil for five minutes all dishes or drinking vessels the patient uses, unless the patient uses separate dishes and drinking vessels. Surplus food should be boiled or burned. Boil the patient’s clothes and bed linin five minutes or soak for two hours in a disinfectant before sending to the laundry. Strew the floor of the patient’s room with damp sawdust or bits of wet paper before sweeping.

Don’t kiss the patient if he coughs and never kiss anyone on the lips even if they do not cough. Never allow the tuberculosis patient to sleep with anyone. Every time another person waits on the patient, the hands much be washed in soap and water.

Children are much more easily infected that adults. Keep them away from the person and the room of the TB as long as the patient coughs or spits. Never let the patient kiss or fondle them or allow them to handle or eat food or anything the patient has had his hands on.

From the front page of the Hoke County Journal, Raeford, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 24, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93064774/1925-09-24/ed-1/seq-1/