US3575712A - Method and apparatus for washing patients - Google Patents

Abstract

A METHOD FOR CLEANSING THE SURFACE OF A HUMAN BODY INCLUDING THE THREE SEPARATE AND SEQUENTIAL STEPS OF WASHING. RINSING AND DRYING, EACH STEP INCLUDING THE USE OF A SEPARATE, DISPOSABLE, AND ANTISEPTICALLY TREATED TOWELING, TO PREVENT SECONDARY INFECTION IN HOSPITALS.

D R A W I N G

Description

April 20, 1971 F. H. PEMBROKE ET AL 3,575,712

METHOD AND APPARATUS PoR WASHING PATIENTS Orignaliiled Dec. 26, 1963 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Y A," Y 7 "WMU-) l v I 1 O 64 52 O \|5 F162 M\`5 se. Q23 1 lNvENmRs FREoERlcK H. PEMBROKE JOHN P. GILMORE ATTORNEYS W F. H. PEMBRQME: BTM

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WASHING PATIENTS Original Filed Dec. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS FREDERICK H. PEMBROKE JOHN P. GlLMoRE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 134-6 20 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A method for cleansing the surface of a human body including the three separate and sequential steps of Washing, rinsing and drying, each step including the use of a separate, disposable, and antiseptically treated toweling, to prevent secondary infection in hospitals.

This is a contiuation of application Ser. No. 581,396, led Sept. 22, 1966, which 'was a division of Ser. No. 333,563, led Dec. 26, 1963, both now abandoned.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for washing the surface of a human body and more particularly method and apparatus utilizing disposable toweling for washing hospital patients.

Hospitals have always had the problem of secondary infection of patients resulting from the sterility problems existing in hospitals. To combat the problem, wash towels, bed sheeting, clothing, attendants uniforms, etc. are sterilized and oftentimes a program of area sterilization is carried out in order to prevent secondary infection in patients particularly in the case of surgery patients. In recent years, this has become a more acute problem because of the widespread Staphylococcus and streptococcus infections and infections from other pathogens which now plague hopsitals worldwide. The severity of this problem is ever increasing and it is a primary object of our invention to help to reduce this problem in one specic area, namely wash towels used in hospitals.

In the past, wash towels have been of the reusable or non-disposable type carried by hampers to a laundry where they were laundered and thereafter sterilized. There are many problems of contamination during the disposal to the laundry, and problems of re-contamination subsequent to sterilization. It is one of the significant purposes of our invention to provide method and apparatus for washing patients utilizing disposable towels which minimizes the problem of secondary infections in hospitals.

It is another object of our invention to provide a disposable wash towel being antiseptically treated to prevent secondary infection as a result of hospital residency.

Another problem plaguing hospitals is the inconvenience and time consumption resulting from use of present methods and apparatus for patient washing, it being one purpose of our invention to minimise the inconvenience and time consumption necessary to wash patients in hospitals.

It is another object of our invention to provide improved method and apparatus for washing patients.

It is a further object of our invention to eliminate the cost and inconvenience of laundering non-disposable toweling.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be particularly set forth in the claims and will be apparent cce from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of one embodiment of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the FIG. l embodiment with parts broken away and with internal structure shown in broken line;

IFIG. 3 is a reduced top planar view of the FIG. 1 embodiment of our invention;

FIG. 4 is a reduced right-hand end elevational view of the JFIG. l embodiment with internal structure shown in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is a reduced rear elevational view of the FIG. 1 embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the internal structure of the FIG. l embodiment.

We shall rst describe our novel apparatus by which our no-vel method is fulfilled.

With reference to the figures, we provide a portable carriage generally indicated by the numeral 10 preferably of rectilinear, parallelepiped construction, preferably formed of sheet stainless steel or other non-corrosive material comprising a front side wall 12, end side walls 14 and 16, and a table top counter 18, and a rear or back sidewall 20.

All of the hereinafter described attachments of the carriage are preferably manufactured of stainless steel, Monel, bronze, brass, or other non-corrosive material so that the entire carriage 10 may be sterilized before use inside of a large hospital sterilizer.

The carriage is provided with a pair of ihandles 13 rigidly mounted to the end side walls x14 and 16 for conveniently receiving the hands of the attendant or nurse so that the portable carriage 10' may be conveniently operated from either end. Two pair of swivel casters generally indicated by the numeral 15 are provided, each caster being rigidly mounted at one of the four corners of the carriage 10 to the underside of a bottom shelf 26 and being rotatable about both the vertical and horizontal axis. It will be noted that the side Iwalls 12, 14, 416 and 20 of the carriage 10` provide a skirt extending below the bottom shelf 26 to partially overlie the swivel casters I15.

Internally of the carriage we provide three horizontally disposed shelves 22, 24 and 26 (FIG. 2) rigidly mounted integral with the side walls 14, 16, 12 and 20. Mounted integral with and recessed in a front portion of the table top 18 is a washing sink 29 and a rinsing sink 30 both of which may be drained by interconnected pop-up drain valves 38 and 40 (FIG. 3) controlled by a common manually operated handle 32. The handle 32 is connected by linkages 34 and 36 to the pop- up drain valves 38 and 40. Refuse water from the sinks 28 and 30 pass through pipes 42 and 44 respectively to a common juncture at a T-joint 46 and then into a water refuse tank 48 rigidly mounted on shelf 24. Tank 48 extends the full width of the carriage 10 from the front side wall 12 to the rear sidewall 20. Refuse tank 48 has a drain pipe 5t) (FIGS. 4 and 6) terminating in a manually controlled valve 52 having a spigot 53. Water is discharged from the spigot 53 preferably into a floor drain someplace in the hospital.

With reference to FIG. 6, fresh water, heated to a selected temperature, is provided to an insulated fresh water tank 54 also extending the full width of the carriage. The tank 54 is fully insulated to maintain the fresh water at the selected bathing temperature. A fresh water supply line from a source outside of our apparatus is removably connectable to a manually controlled valve 58 at a spigot where a closure capy 56 is normally provided except during lling of the fresh water tank. Valve 58 is carried on a pipe 60 delivering the heated fresh water lto the .tank 54. The tank 54 is provided with a water gauge cock S9. At the end of a day of use of our apparatus if there iS water remaining in the fresh water tank 54 it may be drained through an outlet pipe 62 and a manually operated valve 64, having a spigot 66, to a floor drain.

Compressed air from a compressed air tank 68 rigidly mounted on shelf 24 (FIG. 2) passes through a safety relief valve 70 (FIGS. 3, 5, and 6), an air lilter 72, a pressure regulator 74 and a pressure gauge 76, all being mounted on a conduit 78 secured to back sidewall 20. Conduit 78 delivers compressed air into the fresh water tank 54 at the top thereof to selectively force water through a conduit or water tube 80 to a water faucet 82 controlled by a faucet handle 84, conveniently mounted forwardly of the basins 28 and 30, to selectively or simultaneously draw water out of spigots 86 and 88 providing water respectively to sinks 28 and 30.

We provide a series of three compartments, indicated by the arrows 89, 91, and 93 in FIG. 1, constructed at a back portion of and extending above the level of the counter top 18 and each compartment is respectively provided with a lid 90, 92 and 94; these compartments are provided to receive rolls of disposable paper or non-woven fabric toweling or folded sheets of such toweling to be used in the manner hereinafter described.

At the right-hand end of the counter 18, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, we provide a hole 98 adapted to removably receive a stainles steel receptacle or bucket 100 having a handle 101 for easy and convenient removal from the hole 98.

Centrally located in the front of carriage we provide a drawer 102 slidably received within a compartment 104 (FIGS. 2 and 4) extending half the width, as viewed in FIG. 4 of the carriage 10. The b ack half 106 of compartment 104 comprises an open storage space for spare towels. Drawer 102 is for storage of disposable plastic waste bags. These disposable plastic bags when used are clipped to the front 12 of the carriage by a clip 108 where the bag conveniently receives used toweling after the washing process described hereinafter.

The disposable plastic bags are preferably of any plastic material that is impervious to moisture and susceptible to fabrication on automatic bag forming machines; polyethylene being preferred to all other plastics for this use. The size of the disposable plastic bags should be suliicient to retain the waste towelings resulting from at least 25 patient washings, a l2-inch by l8-inch bag being adequate for this waste toweling.

A disposable plastic bag is also placed in the bucket 100 to receive used bandages and other refuse matter which can be conveniently dropped into it by the nurse or attendant during the washing period.

When the plastic bags become full they are removed from the clip 108 and bucket 100, sealed olf by any suitable tie string and deposited in an open depository or bin generally indicated by the numeral 109. Bin 109 extends from the upper surface of lower shelf 26 to the lower surface of upper shelf 22, between two side walls 110 and extends the full width of the carriage 10. The compartment 109 is completely enclosed at the back by the rear sidewall and partially covered in the front by front sidewall 12, leaving only an opening 112 through which the nurse or attendant deposits the tied disposable bags after removing from the clip 108.

In the front of the carriage, we provide a plurality of slidable drawers 114, 116, and 118 which may extend the full width of the carriage 10, or in a manner similar to the drawer 102, may extend only partially through the carriage from front 12 to rear 20 with the back portions being open to provide storage compartments. Drawers 114, 116 and 118 provide convenient storage compart ments for excess toweling or any other products or articles which the nurse or attendant desires to transport to the patients bed.

We shall now describe the toweling which is stored in the compartments 89, 91 and 93 for use with our novel process described hereinafter. Wash toweling for washing the patient is stored in the compartment 89 and comprises high wet strength paper or non-woven fabric toweling impregnated with a cleansing detergent. This toweling is antiseptically treated by impregnation of a prophylacetic detergent. As used hereinafter, antiseptically treated or like term, means treated chemically with a composition which destroys or impedes growth of microorganisms on objects coming into Contact with the treated toweling, as for example, impregnated with bacteriocidal agents, fungicidal agents, and bacteriostatic agents or the like, singly or in combination.

The toweling from compartment 89 is submerged in wash water provided in basin or sink 28 and used for scrubbing, washing or bathing the patient to remove residual soils, fluid secretions, detached cuticular wastes, microbic accumulations and the like from the epidermal surfaces of the body.

The toweling stored in container 91 is a high wet strength non-detergent antiseptically treated rinse toweling which is submerged in the rinse water provided in sink or basin 30. The rinse toweling is used to antiseptically cleanse the epidermal surfaces of the body of any residues after the scrubbing or washing with the detergent toweling. Each of the wash and rinse towels are deposited in the plastic bag retained on the side of the carriage by the clip 108 after they have been used.

Toweling stored in container 93 comprises low wet strength, non-detergent antiseptically treated toweling used for drying the patients, after washing and rinsing, to hygienically remove the moisture from the epidermal surfaces of the body.

Preferably, each of the three types of toweling above described are prepared in distinguishable colors, thereby facilitating the process of washing, rinsing and drying of the patient with the proper selected toweling for each sequential operation.

The composition of the toweling preferably consists primarily of long ibered conifer or softwood pulps. During the course of its conversion into toweling, the material for each toweling is colored and treated with resin to provide the finished stock with residual or latent wet strength.

The composition of the untreated wash toweling stock is identical to that of the untreated rinse toweling stock. Except for a smaller quantity of wet strength resin to make it softer, more pliant and bibulous, the composition of the untreated toweling stock used for drying is identical to that of the untreated wash and rinse toweling stocks.

The dyestuffs used for coloring the toweling substances preferably do not bleed or redissolve when the finished towelings are wetted with or immersed in water. Also, the coloring agents preferably do not dissolve in antiseptic detergent preparations when such are applied to the colored towelings in subsequent operations. In addition, the coloring matters should not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces. Laboratory and hospital field tests indicate that the soluble F. D. & C. Certified Colors of the National Aniline Division of Allied Chemical and the colors sold under the trademark Pontamine of E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co. (Inc.) do not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces when used, exclusive of bacteriostatic and prophylactic detergent preparations or the like in concentrations not exceeding 0.10 percent of the finished toweling weights.

The bacteriostatic preparation employed to inhibit and kill microorganisms is applied to the rinse and dry towelings as they are produced on the paper-making machine, or immediately thereafter on other appropriate machinery. When used in conjunction with these towelings, the preparation must not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces. Laboratory and hospital field tests indicate that the following bacteriostatic preparation does not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces when employed with the towelings in concentrations not exceeding percent of the untreated toweling weights:

BACTERIOSTATIC PREPARATION FOR RINSE AND DRY TOWELING To compound the bacteriostatic preparation, 5 pounds of isopropyl alcohol and 5 pounds of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. `:#:1175D Scent are added to 480 pounds of propylene glycol. The combined chemicals are agitated until uniformly mixed. The l0 pounds of hexachloraphene are added to the mixture and the whole is agitated until all of the hexachlorophene is dissolved and in solution.

The bacteriostatic preparation is spread or laid upon the surfaces of the towelings by mechanical means, spraying, roller coating, or the like, in such a manner that the weight of applied bacteriostatic preparation Will preferably be not less than 3 percent nor more than 5 percent of the untreated toweling weights. The preparation permeates the toweling to provide it rwith an effective prophylaxis.

The prophylactic detergent preparation consists of the following ingredients, namely:

PROPHYLACTIC DETERGENT PREPARA- TION FOR WASH TOWELING Hexachlorophene, 2,2methylenebis (3,4,6-trichlorophenol) is employed in the prophylactic detergent preparation to render the composition effective against microorganisms. Laboratory and hospital field tests indicate that the addition of 2 percent of hexachlorophene to the detergent preparation provides the same with adequate disinfecting and deodorizing actions without sensitization or irritation to human skin surfaces,

Propylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol are employed as mutual solvents for both the hexachlorophene and the Miranol MSA Modified to produce a stable detergent solution. When each solvent is not used in excess of 4 percent of the total formula Weight as given herein, laboratory and hospital field tests indicate that the residual quantities of each solvent remaining in the preparation after application to the toweling do not sensitize or irritate human skin surfaces.

Miranol MSA Modified is the synthetic detergent used to provide the preparation with its emulsifying and cleansing properties. Miranol MSA Modified is manufactured under U.S. Pat. No. 2,781,357 (and others) by the Miranol Chemical Company, Inc. of Irvington, NJ. Chemically, it is a i0i percent active lauryl sulphate salt of caproyl cycloimidinium ethanol, soldium ethionate. Since it is an ionically balanced amphoteric surface active agent with an isoelectric point at pH 7, its cationic and anionic groups being of equal strength, it is compatible with all anionics, cationics and nonionics in all proportions. Hence, it is compatible With hexachlorophene, an anionic substance. Laboratory and hospital field tests indicate that this synthetic detergent does not deactivate hexachlorophene or act as a sensitizing or irritating agent when applied to human skin surfaces,

To compound the prophylactic detergent preparation,

the 2O pounds of prophylene glycol and the 20 pounds of isopropyl alcohol are added to the 450 pounds of Miranol MSA Modified. The combined chemicals are agitated until completely mixed. The l0 pounds of hexachlorophene are now added to the mixture. The finished preparation is kept under agitation until all of its ingredients are dispersed and intermingled. Finally, to obtain a composition of a more suitable viscosity for mechanical application, 50 pounds of demineralized water may be added to the prophylactic detergent preparation. During the addition of any such water, the preparation must be carefully agitated to assure a complete intermingling of all of its constituents.

By mechanical means, spraying, roller coating, or the like, the prophylactic detergent preparation is spread or laid upon the surface of the toweling in such a manner that, after removal of all water and other evaporative chemicals by heat, the weight of the applied preparation will not be less than 20 percent nor more than 50 percent of the untreated toweling weight.

After each machine roll of toweling has received its specified treatment, it is slit and rewound into dispensing rolls or cut and folded into separate folded sheets of toweling. All such dispensingrolls are separately packaged in sealed containers prior to placement in corrugated shipping cases. The rolls are removed fro-rn the plastic bags and placed in the respective compartments 89, 91, and 93.

The fresh wash Water used in the system will normally be that which is available from a public source. Such water may, if necessary or desirable, be treated for washing purposes by the addition of chemicals or medicinals. All such additions would be made after the water is admitted to the fresh water storage tank of the organizer. In many cases, the addition of a water softening agent to the fresh Wash Water would be beneficial. Any chemical added to the water must be compatible with the chemicals in the wash and rinse toweling.

Complete sterility of the stored waste Waters may be maintained by placing 6 ounces of a 25 percent active blend of quaternary ammonium chlorides, n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides and n-alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides, in the Waste Water tank of the organizer. This addition is made prior to the patient washing period by pouring 3 ounces of the sterilizer into each basin drain and fiushing it into the waste Water tank with a small quantity of tap water.

We shall now describe the operation of our apparatus and our novel method performed by the use of the preceding described novel apparatus.

Preparatory to use of the above described apparatus, the nurse or attendant fills the toweling compartments 89, 91 and 93 with the appropriate type of toweling above described. The entire carriage 10 and appurtenances are sterilized, as for example as suggested above, the entire carriage 10, may be inserted into a large hospital sterilizer and actually sterilized for subsequent use.

The insulated fresh water tank 54 is filled with tap water of selected temperature for bathing and rinsing by removing the cap 56, opening the valve 58, and filling through conduit 6'0 from a source of heated water. During filling, the valve 64 Will be `closed and the gauge cock 59 will be opened. After the tank 54 has been filled until water starts to come out the gauge cock 59, the water from the source will be turned off, the gauge cock shut, valve 58 closed, and the closure cap 56 returned to the illustrated position. With the faucet handle 84 closed, the cornpartment 58 is then pressurized by opening a valve 69 on the compressed air tank 68.

Now the carriage is in condition for operation and th attendant or nurse wheels the carriage 10 into the patients room. A plastic bag from the dravyer 102 is clipped by the clip 108 to the carriage 10. Next, the sinks or basins 28 and 30 are simultaneously filled by turning the faucet handle 84. The attendant then tears off a suitable length of toweling from the wash toweling roll in compartment 89 and from the rinse toweling in compartment 91 and deposits the toweling respectively in the sinks 28 and 30. The compartment lids 90, 92 and 94 have a tearing edge whereby the sheets of suitable length of toweling may be torn across the tearing edge of the compartment lids. The patient is then scrubbed with the soap or wash toweling from the washing basin or sink 28, thereafter rinsed with the rinse toweling from the rinse basin or sink 30 after which a suitable length of drying toweling from compartment 93 is torn across the edge of the compartment lid 94 and the patient is dried.

Upon completion of each of the steps of washing, rinsing and drying, the used toweling is dispensed into the plastic bag clipped to the clip l108. After the plastic bag is filled, it is tied off with a string or other suitable means and dispensed into the receptacle or bin 109. After completion of the patient washing process, the basins 28 and 30 are emptied into the waste water container 48. The empty sinks are then cleansed with a small piece of wetted wash or soap toweling.

After the waste container 48 is full, the carriage 10 is transported to a sewerage or drainage catch basin, preferably in the floor, and waste water is drained by opening the valve 52. It will be understood that at the end of the day that the fresh water is also drained in the same manner by opening the valve 64.

In the above manner, and with the use of our apparatus, we are able to provide improved method and apparatus for cleansing of the human body. The bacteriostatic and prophylactic detergent preparation or other antiseptic preparation deposited on the epidermal surfaces of the human body destroy or inhibit resident and transient microorganisms, thereby providing greatly improved hygenic control within the hospital during the patient washing period and thereafter.

While we have shown and described the preferred form of mechanism of our invention, it will be apparent that various modications and changes may be made therein, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of our invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of cleansing the surface of a human body in a hospital or the like comprising the steps of transporting a portable apparatus for cleansing the surface of a human body from room to room, washing the surface with disposable washing toweling and a washing preparation carried on said apparatus, rinsing the surface with disposable rinsing toweling and a rinsing preparation carried by said apparatus, and drying the surface with drying toweling carried by said apparatus.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which said drying step is performed by drying the surface with disposable drying toweling carried by said apparatus.

3. A method of cleansing the surface of a human body comprising the steps of: sequentially washing the surface with disposable washing toweling, rinsing the surface with disposable rinsing toweling, and drying the surface with disposable drying toweling.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 including a step of disposing of all of said toweling in a disposable waterproof airtight contaner immediately after use thereof.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 in which said washing toweling is of a first selected color, said rinsing disposable toweling is of a second selected color, and said drying toweling is of a third selected color.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3 in which said washing toweling is impregnated with an antisepetic preparation.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 in which said drying towel is impregnated with an antiseptic preparation.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 in which said preparation is a prophylactic detergent.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6 in which said rinsing, disposable toweling is impregnated with an antiseptic preparation.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 in which said washing toweling is of a rlirst selected color, said rinsing disposable toweling is of a second selected color, and said drying toweling is of a third selected color.

11. A method of cleansing the surface of a human body in a hospital or the like comprising the steps of z transporting a portable carriage comprising liquid retaining basins and a plurality of disposable toweling compartments having disposable washing, rinsing, and drying toweling therein from room to room, submerging said disposable washing and rinsing toweling in washing and rinsing preparations in said basins, sequentially washing and rinsing the surface with said disposable washing toweling and rinsing toweling respectively, and sequentially thereafter drying the surface with disposable drying toweling carried in one of said compartments.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 in which said washing and rinsing toweling is impregnated with antiseptic preparation.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11 in which said washing toweling is of a first selected color, said rinsing disposable toweling is of a second selected color, and said drying toweling is of a third selected color.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 in which said washing and rinsing toweling is impregnated with antiseptic preparation.

1S. A method for the systematic cleansing of a group of human beings having a common residence to control the random spread of pathogenic micro-organisms arising from cleansing operations and to minimize the incidence of cross infections between said human beings, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a portable washing carriage including: a wash basin, a separate, rinse basin, and a supply of antiseptically treated toweling to a position adjacent a rst human being to be washed;

(b) filling said wash basin and said rinse basin with water;

(c) washing the surface of said human being with toweling from said supply and with said water in said wash basin;

(d) rinsing the surface of said human being with toweling from said supply and with said water in said rinse basin, said toweling used in said rinsing step being different from said toweling used in said washing step; and

(e) drying said human being with toweling from said supply, said toweling used in said drying step being different from said toweling used in said washing and rinsing steps;

(f) disposing of all of said toweling by depositing them in a container positioned on said carriage;

(g) disposing of said water contained in said wash and rinse basins by depositing it in a container on said carriage;

(h) cleaning and sterilizing both of said basins, and

(i) systematically repeating each of said steps (a) through (h) for each subsequent one of said human beings to be cleansed.

16. The method according to claim 15 including the step of periodically positioning said carriage in a sterilizing apparatus and sterilizing said carriage therein.

17. The method according to claim 15 including the steps of maintaining washing toweling in a first container, maintaining rinsing toweling in a second container, and maintaining drying toweling in a third container on said carriage.

18. A method for the systematic cleansing of a group of human beings having a common residence to control the random spread of pathogenic micro-organisms arising from cleansing operations and to minimize the incidence of cross infections between said human beings, comprismg:

(a) maintaining all of the components necessary to the cleansing operation on a portable washing carriage and in readiness for use;

(b) positioning said carriage adjacent a human being to be cleansed;

(c) washing, rinsing and then drying said human being with separate washing, rinsing, and drying toweling and water contained on said carriage;

(d) disposing of said toweling and water, by depositing said toweling and water in containers on said carriage;

(e) repeating steps (b) through (d) for each subsequent human being to be cleansed; and

(f) periodically sterilizing said carriage by inserting it into a sterilizing apparatus and sterilizing it therein.

19. A method for the systematic cleansing of a group of human beings 1n common association or res1dence to control the random spread of pathogenic micro-organisms arising from such operations and to minimize the incidence of cross infections between the members of said group as well as between the members of said group and outsiders exposed to its surroundings, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carriage for the operating supplies and mechanical adjuncts of the method, said adjuncts consisting of a wash basin, a rinse basin, an enclosed fresh water tank, an enclosed waste water tank, piping for controlling the admittance of fresh water to said fresh water tank, the transmission of said fresh water from said fresh water tank to said wash and rinse basins and the discharge of said fresh water from the fresh water tank into a sanitary sewer, piping for controlling the transmission of the waste wash waters from said wash and rinse basins to said waste water tank and the discharge of said waste wash waters from said waste water tank into a sanitary sewer, a portable compressed air tank, including sundry piping, for applying air pressure to move said fresh water from said fresh water tank to said wash and rinse basins, enclosed dispensers for all of the towelings employed in said method, an enclosed drawer for the storage of unused, disposable, airtight, waterproof containers, a receptacle for the retention of the charged, disposable, airtight, waterproof containers and bins for the storage of the specialized, antiseptically treated, disposable towelings used in said method, the hereinafter designated wash, rinse and dry towelings;

(b) preparing the carriage for use by furnishing it with operating supplies consisting of a store of biocidally impregnated wash, rinse and dry toweling, a store of fresh water, a store of disposable, airtight, waterproof containers, a store of biocidal agent and a store of compressed air, the towelings being stored in the bins and dispensers of said carriage, the fresh water being admitted into the -fresh water tank of said carriage for storage and chemical treatment via the piping controlling its ingress thereto, the disposable, airtight, waterproof containers being stored in an enclosed drawer of said carriage, the biocidal agent for sterilizing the waste wash waters being admitted into the waste water tank for storage via the transmission piping controlling the ingress of the waste wash waters to said waste water tank from the wash and rinse basins of said carriage, the compressed air being stored in the compressed air tank of said carriage and transferred via sundry piping to the fresh water tank for applying pressure to move I (d) filling the wash and rinse basins of the carriage with fresh water from the yfresh water tank of said carriage via the controls situated in the fresh water transmission line;

(e) positioning a disposable, airtight, waterproof container on the carriage;

(f) removing a portion of the supply of wash toweling from its dispenser and washing the surface of the rst human being to be cleansed by wetting said toweling in the fresh water contained in the wash basin of the carriage;

(g) removing a portion of the supply of rinse toweling from its dispenser and rinsing the surface of the first human being to be cleansed by wetting said toweling in the fresh water contained in the rinse basin of the carriage;

(h) removing a portion of the supply of dry toweling from its dispenser and drying the surface of the first human being to be cleansed;

(i) disposing of the wash, rinse and dry towelings immediately after completing steps (f), (g) and (h) by depositing all of said towelings in the disposable, airtight, waterproof container positioned on the carriage, said disposable, airtight, waterproof containers being promptly sealed when full and placed in the receptacle of said carriage for temporary storage;

(j) disposing of the Waste waters contained in the wash and rinse basins by depositing said waste waters in the biocidally treated waste water tank via the controls situated in the waste wash water transmission line;

(k) cleaning and sterilizing the wash and rinse basins with either a small portion of the wash toweling or the rinse toweling, said toweling being wetted for the purpose with the fresh water and discarded immediately after use by placing it in the disposable, airtight, waterproof containers positioned on the carriage, the flushing of said wash and rinse basins with fresh water following said cleaning and sterilizing step;

(l) systematically repeating steps (c) through (k) for each subsequent human being to be cleansed.

20. The method according to claim 19 including the steps of periodically emptying the fresh water from the fresh water tank of the carriage and the waste wash waters from the waste water tank of said carriage into a sanitary sewer system, transferring the charged, disposable, airtight, waterproof containers from the receptacle of said carriage to another sanitary container for subsequent incineration and the positioning of the carriage in an autoclave or other sterilizing apparatus for sterilization.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,466 3/1873 Stewart 424-28 1,595,791 8/1926 Lantieri. 1,786,513 12/1930' Zuckerman. 2,682,058 6/ 1954 Wolfe. 2,760,207 8/ 1956 Glintz. 2,784,418 3/1957 Luoma. 3,013,280 12/1961 Coffman et al. 3,129,811 4/1964 Williams. 3,138,533 6/1964 Heim et al. 3,177,055 4/1965 Ruckle et al. 3,264,188 8/ 1966 Gresham.

JOSEPH SCOVRONEK, Primary Examiner D. G. MILLMAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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