The standard book of recipes and housewife's guide, comprising as complete cook book

Antiseptics include such bodies as borax, boracic acid, chloride of lime, thy- mol, Condy's fluid, and various patent dis- infectants (so-called). These will arrest the growth of germs, and so prevent putrefac- faction, but few of them will absolutely kill germs. Condy's fluid will, of course, do so, but only when used in such a strong solution that it would discolor and destroy any clothes put into it. THE FAMIL Y DOCTOR 103 True disinfectants are of three kinds : fumigation, heat, and chemical. Fumigation by chlorine and sulphurous acid gas. It is probable that many spores will resist this method, and germs hidden, say in the pocket of a coat, will escape de- struction. Heat. — This is the best method of disin- fection as, if the temperature is sufficiently high, all germs and their spores will be de- stroyed. Unfortunately, it cannot be ap- plied in the case of all infected articles. A ready method of heat-disinfection which can be used in eveiy household is, where possi- ble, to boil any infected article, as it has been shown that by boiling for ten minutes all germs and spores are destroyed. Chemical Disinfectants. — iVlthough there are many so-called disinfectants offered for sale, yet only a few are true disinfectants if used in a strength which will not destroy the articles to be disinfected. Of these we shall only mention two, namely, carbolic acid and corrosive sublimate. Both of these are dangerous poisons, and must be handled with the utmost care. Carbolic acid needs to be diluted in the proportion of i part acid to 20 parts water. Corrosive sub- limate is sold in the form of tablets, colored blue to avoid accidents. These must be dissolved in water in the proportion of i part to 1,000. Contagious Diseases. The following points will help to deter- mine the nature of a suspicious illness : Disease Rash or Eruption Appearance Duration IN Days Remarks Chicken-pox . . . Small rose pimples 2d day of fever or after 6-7 Scabs from about changing to vesicles 24 hours illness . . fourth day of fever. Erysipelas .... Diffuse redness and swelling 2d or 3d day of illness. Measles Small red dots like flea bites 4th day of fever or after 72 hours' ill- ness 6-10 Rash fades on 7th day. Scarlet Fever . . Bright scarlet, diffused 2d day of fever or after 24 hours' illness . . 8-10 Rash fades on 5th day. Small-pox Small red pimples 3d day of fever or after 14-21 Scabs form 9th or loth changing to vesicles. 48 hours' illness . . day, fall off about then pustules . . . 14th. Typhoid Fever . . Rose-colored spots scattered nth to 14th day . , . 22-30 Accompanied by diar- rhoea. It will often relieve a mother's anxiety to know how long there is danger of infec- tion after a child has been exposed to a con- tagious disease. The following table gives the information concerning the more im- portant diseases : Disease Symptoms Appear Period Ranges from Patient is Infectious Chicken-pox DiPHTHICRIA . Measles* On i4tli day " 2d day " I4tli day " 19th day " 14th day " 4th day " 12th day " 2ist day " I4tli day 10 to 18 days 2 to 5 days 10 to 14 days 16 to 24 days 12 to 20 days I to 7 days I to 14 days I to 28 days 7 to 14 days Until all scabs have fallen off.