Temperature of the room.—­This should be regulated by a thermometer suspended at a central point in the room.  The temperature should be regulated according to the nature of the disease and the comfort of the patient.  In fevers it should be lower, varying from 55 to 60 degrees F., but in bronchial troubles it should be kept about 70 degrees F. The mean temperature should be kept about 60 degrees to 70 degrees.  It should be raised or lowered gradually, so that the patient will not be overheated or chilled.

Light.—­The patient should have plenty of light and sunshine, but do not let the sun or light shine directly upon the face.

Care of the discharges (Excreta).—­This is very important.  Sputa, dirty vessels, soiled dressings and linen are prolific sources of impure air.

Sputum Cups.—­These should be of glazed earthenware, without any corners or cracks and provided with a simple moveable cover when in use.  They should be sterilized for one hour in every twenty-four hours.

Bed Pans and Urinals.—­These should be washed out thoroughly.  Allow boiling hot water to run on them for some time before they are put away after being cleansed.

Soiled Dressing and Linen.—­These should be received in covered basins or in paper bags and at once carried away and destroyed or disinfected, or put in a metal dressing can and closely covered until the contents can be cared for at the earliest possible time.  Vomited matter or the discharges from the bowels and the urine should always be covered in the vessel either with a lid, towel or rubber cloth.  The rubber is better than the cloth as it keeps in the odor and can be scrubbed and disinfected.

If the patient is too sick to use a sputum cup, the expectoration can be received in a paper handkerchief or a piece of cheese cloth and placed in a small paper bag and burned at once.

Soiled and stained linen.—­These should be put away in a covered receptacle that contains enough disinfectant solution to keep them moist.  They are removed as soon as possible to the wash room to be cleaned and sterilized.

Sterilization.—­This term is usually employed when heat is used to sterilize.

Disinfection.—­This is the term used when chemicals are relied upon to purify (sterilize).

Heat and Chemicals are much aided by sunshine, light and fresh air, especially that of high dry climates.

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The germs (bacteria) are destroyed by dry or moist heat, the latter used in the form of steam.  Dry heat is not so penetrating and requires a longer time and some goods are destroyed when exposed in it long enough to destroy the germs.

In order to destroy these organisms it is thought to be necessary to expose whatever is to be sterilized to the steam at 200 degrees F. for three successive days for thirty minutes or more each day, and during the interval to keep them in a room with a temperature of 60 degrees F.