These silly tales were widely circulated and quite generally believed, and as a result of the fear thus engendered, and of the desire on the part of relatives and neighbours of stricken persons to escape disinfection and quarantine, strong efforts were often made to conceal the sick and the dead, and when this was not possible the "contacts" usually ran away.

The prisoners do their washing in well-fitted wash-houses; a movable furnace facilitates the weekly disinfection of all the prisoners' effects.

It is evident that air and water are not always sufficient to secure disinfection, and this must be accomplished by other means.