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9. The carbolic acid * disinfecting solution should contain at least 5
percent, of phenol; consequently, if the examination has shown that
the carbolic acid supplied is of doubtful quality, the dilation with water
should be 1 in 18 or 19, instead of 1 in 20.
10. Disinfection may be naturally divided under three headings—
Disinfection of houses and household effects.
Disinfection of personal effects.
Disinfection of the person.
11. A. Of houses.—On opening the house a stream of the perchloride †
solution should be poured by means of a syringe through the door over
the furniture and as much of the walls as can be seen from the door.
This lays the dust and renders entry to the house comparatively safe.
The house may then be entered and the walls, ceiling and everything
within reach thoroughly covered with the perchloride solution till they
are wet and dripping. The furniture should be collected in one place
and thoroughly disinfected, piece by piece, by means of the solution.
Clothing should be collected, placed in a canvas bag sealed with a lead
clamp seal and sent to be disinfected by moist heat— by steam if there
is an apparatus, if not by boiling. Worthless articles should be burned
at once.
After thorough disinfection of the furniture, it should be placed out-
side to dry in the sunshine.
Each room, passage, staircase, etc., should be systematically cleansed
in the same way.
There may be certain parts of a room that require special treat-
ment.
If the floor is of earth, it should not be dug up, ‡ but should be
thoroughly saturated with the perchloride solution.
If the floor is of earth mixed with cowdung, § it should be saturated
with acid perchloride solution of double strength i.e., 2 per 1,000 of
perchloride and 4 per 1,000 hydrochloric acid.
Sometimes wooden and stone walls or articles of furniture are
covered with a greasy coat of dirt, through which no solution will pene-
trate. After such a coating has been thoroughly irrigated with the
perchloride solution, it should be scrubbed with a hot 5 per cent. solution
of carbolic acid and soft soap.
All crevices and cracks should be thoroughly syringed out with the
perchloride solution.
* Note.—In deference to Mr. Hankin's opinion as to feebleness of action of
carbolic acid on the plague microbe, its issue has not been advised in this Presidency.
Phenyle is relied upon when the use of perchloride of mercury with hydrochloric acid,
or a solution of sulphuric acid, is deemed unsuitable. Beyond those stated no other
disinfectants are considered necessary.
† Note.—For the best mode of applying perchloride of mercury to the walls and
floors of houses, see Plague Commissioner's Proceedings, No. 308, dated 1st February
1899, and G.O., No. 852-P., dated 3rd June 1899.
‡ Note.—Vide paragraph 4 of the Sanitary Commissioner's letter printed in Plague
Commissioner's Proceedings, No. 308, dated 1st February 1899, in which he proposed to
give up the kiln method of disinfection.
§ Note.—Vide paragraph 2 of the Sanitary Commissioner's letter printed in Plague
Commissioner's Proeedings, No. 308, dated 1st February 1899 ; paragraph 1 of this letter
also directs attention to the use of sulphuric acid. It should be used in the strength
of 1—250 (Hankin), where thick mud charged with organic matter is dealt with,
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