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Show I A AFEGUARDI NG tte HEALTH of the FAM I'LYl v."'- '4 Iodine Renders Plesh, k-, L ffi ' ;:'yy ' EY MRS. McCUNE. N ur unceasing war upon dls-3 dls-3 m ease-producing microbes, oui ksS3 most effective weapons aro the disinfectants. Armed with proper ammunition of this nature, the housekeeper stands upon a platform of "preparedness" that will go far toward to-ward safeguarding the health of her family. As germs are not rcspectors of persons per-sons or places, nothing Is immune from their presence or attack. They arc as much at home In the baby's mouth as they are in the bath-room drains, which fact makes It imperative impera-tive for us to know how best to thwart their nefarious activities. Fresh air and sunlight aro nature's , infallible prophylactics. Fresh air Has , the same effect upon microbes as wa-t wa-t ter has upon dirt, and no germ can thrive and fulfill its destiny if sub-, sub-, jeeted to the direct rays of the sun for . n sufficient length of time. It is only . becauso it Is eldom possible to administer ad-minister natur'e'a disinfectants in ade quate doses that artificial germicides , are necessary. SInco we cannot flood our drains with sunlight and subject the remoto nooks nnd crannies of our dwellings to purifying draughts of air, it has been necessary to employ substitutes. sub-stitutes. And in employing substitutes, many people are misled by the belief that to bo effective, a disinfectant must bo some mysterious and expensive expen-sive concoction of tho chemist, believing be-lieving that the more mysterious and expensive It is the more deadly "will be its work. While thero are many excellent compounds of this nature on the market, it is doubtful if they are more effective than the simple and familiar fa-miliar germicides for sale at a moderate mod-erate price at every drug store. Formaldehyde, For-maldehyde, sulphuric acid, enrbolic acid, iodine, boric acid, chloride of lime and bichloride of mercury (cor--'s vo Fiibi'mate). have stood the test of lime and form the basis of most of n preparations on the market. While bichloride of mercury Is one of the most powerful germicides known, Its use. especially when handled han-dled by a layman, is accompanied by such danger that its ultimate worth as a household remed', is questionable. In order to make a distinction between be-tween disinfectants, antiseptics and deodorants it ls necessary to know the meaning of each term A disinfectant disinfect-ant is a substanco used to destroy the germs of infectious and contagious diseases and distinguished from an antiseptic an-tiseptic in that it is not Intended to be flas Pnjiijl used In actual contact with tho living P person. Thus it will bo seen thatlor- ; m ide of lime, fcr example, is a disinfect- S ant, whilo boric acid is an antlscpflc. : m Somo antiseptics aro germicidal, otb- ; 9 ers arc not. A deodorant ia an agent ' M that destroys offensive odors and Is not, necessarily, a disinfectant or an m antiseptic. 9 Until recent years a person about to : 9 undergo a surgical operation was sent m to tho hospital a day in advance so m that tho site of the operation might be : subjected to antiseptic treatment Tho i m present modo of procedure is to bathe tM the skin and immediately paint it with 9 iodine, which renders the flesh surg- 9 Ically antiseptic in a remarkably short 9 time. Mothers of littlo children, who 9 are so apt to havo flesh wounds, may 9 well take a lesson from this fact. In- i9 stead of drenching the wound with hy- .9 drogen peroxide, which forms a gas i9 that dilates tho tissues and forcel germs farther into the flesh, bathe tha 9 affected parts with water that has been boiled, sponging away the dirt, and j9 paint (he wound with a weak solution 9 of Iodine. Iodine, as purchased at the 9 drug stores, is usually a ten per cent 9 solution. This should be diluted to a 19 four or even a one per cent solution. 9 Pour over the wound, or apply with a E clean brush or a bit of absorbent cot- ' 9 ton. The only objection to iodine as an antiseptic In flesh wounda Is the momentary stinging pain that follows S its application. tm One of the safest and most effective V antiseptics to keep on hand for varl- Um ous household emergencies, is a sat- jjj urated solution of boric acid. Do not :Sm overlook or despise this really valu- able agent because it does not mas- a? qucrade under a high-sounding name Wi nor sell for 98 cents a bottle. Five m cents worth of boric acid will make a jjl reliable antiseptic that will supply the - C needs of the average family for months. Fifteen grains of boric acid J)g to an ounce of water makes a saturat- Mi cd solution for which there are many uj uses. For flesh wounds in small chll- flj dren who cannot stand tho slight pain Ki; of iodine, boric acid solution Is Ideal mjji This may bo applied freely as 'Sfi cleansing agent and the wound may be covered with an antfsoptic surgical ' jej, dressing prepared by dipping lint or i gauze Into the solution and binding it over the Effected part. The daily use of boric acid as a mouth wash, gargle and nasal douche U recommended as a preventive of those diseases ihich aro germinated in the oral and nasal cav- Itlcs. This treatment is especially ef- , pi ficacious during seasons of contagious H diseases In tho household and should jfi be employed every two or three hours. Sfj The mouths of young babies and little i children may b- kept prophylactic by i swnbbing them with absorbent cotton moistened with tho solution. H5r While fresh air, sunlight and plenty j fE of hot soap suds will keep the major- $ ity of houses reasonably free from dis- ' ease producing germs, during the 'B course of infectious or contagious dis- cases these trustworthy guardians, of m our health must bo strengthened by B reinforcements strong enough to van- 9) qulsh dangerous foes that invade the 9 premises. For this purpose carbolic acid and its many coal-tar rclative-''199 will be found valuable recruits. Naturally, the first skirmish of the battle must tako place in the sick! "H room. Every necessary article should be removed from the room and fumi- H gated. This will climinato many hid- H ing places for germs. As much sun 09 light and air as possible should be ad- M mittcd to the room and everything If washable should be wet with a strong K carbolic acid solution at least once a B day. Great care must be used when B nrftnnrinrr on3 npTnn 1. 7 i uuu uaiiift una auiULlUQ De- WM cause of tho danger of acid burns o"d Eg the flesh. If a large quantity of the j solution will be reguired, it may be Ej made up and allowed to stand ready tfi for use. As carbolic acid sinks to the H bottom of the vessel when mixed with 99 water and allowed to stand for any ffi length of time, it should always be Kg mixed with an equal part of glycerine m before it is added to the water. This (9) makes it less dangerous to handle and H more effective as a disinfectant. This jl precaution is not necessary, however, H If the solution is to be used immedi- II ately. One part of carbolic acid la H nineteen parts of water makes the : 9 proper solution for disinfecting pur-Ml HI poses. This solution should not touc the flesh. Apply to floors and wood- work with a mop or a sponge fastened B-s to a stick. All vessels used for sani- tary purposes should be rinsed with IfM. tho solution and all excretia from the patient should be disinfected with it H before being emptied.' A solution of crcsol, -which may be 3P diluted with three or four times the quantity of water, may be substituted for tho carbolic solution if the latter Ll is required in such quantity that the jfef present high price makes it prohib- Sf Itive. A solution of crcsol chased at any drug store. A table- K spoonful, added to a gallon of water S makes a suitable disinfectant to sprin- 9F kle about the house. Rt Th0 proper care of bed and personal ffi? linen is a big factor in controlling tha W-spread W-spread of disease throughout the household. Articles of this kind should never be trailed through the ?lhl" house or allowed to accumulate until a convenient time for washing. When. Jie ever tho linen is to bo changed, have a pall or a tub of water brought into Sfi,v the room and submerge each article as j KiJ it is taken from the bed or patient JlS Transfer the contents of tho pal i SKX mediately to a wa"sh boiler holding Jt$ . sufficient water to cover tho clothes Bo rapidlv for hM an hQUr 's. g adding watef as necessary and keen- S ing the lid of the boiler down tight 0?c ?nnrw tfIsti!rocess. o food should be i ver that have been used in the sick Wjl room shouldreceive the same treat- njent. Children's metal to?s may be Sfe disinfected in like manner. whitewash nnin , as Possible, S5-no chloVtaifed lSe!lberal allcations of |