The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-27
W
AN IMPORTANT pIscovERY-The last number OF HOW

AN IMPORTANT pIscovERY-The last number OF How
tits Journal contains account OF the new ana import
ant discovery of disnfectng fluid togeher WIN 'ie
reports OF commissioners who were appointed ny uie
English government to test It. These reports are pun
lshed by order OF the House OF Commons IL was as
covered by French chemist, and It's wonderful eec,S
are certified 10 by commissioner appointed by the French
by certificates of surgeons and physicians OF
the different hospitals in Paris and by the Minister OF
War We have room only for the following extracts IN
relation to its efects.-N. Y. Eue Post
"a fluid, which possesses the property OF DESTROYING
noxous gases has been discovered by French chemist
and placed by him, through the lnstrumeniy oi az en-
egetc and patriotic Engishman at the disposal OF me
English government This dlsnlec'ag mud as II mas
been named is inexpensive, simple OF apphcahon' ana
without any odor OF Its own IL destroys the pulilu
smell OF all substances animal or vegetable IN any stage
of accommodations The 'deai-rOoms OF hospitals, all DIS
seeing the subjects OF coroners nquests, or OF
any post morem examinations may, by its presence be
rendered perfectly nofensive. Portions OF human re-
MAINS portions Of animal remains, of fish, OF vegeta-
BILE matter, putrid as scarcely to retain their form
Sufficiently to be recognised, have by IT been re-
stored to their natural odor Night soil arrived at tnat
cumulaed for years in cesspools is by it, nearly deprived
Of all mell that which retains being SO hng as only
to be perceptble by very close observation Cesspools
into which certain portion OF this fluid has been poured
have been emped in the middle OF popuous neighbor
hoods, in open day, and the contents carted away and
hood in which it situated, those OF the neghbor-
hood through which il passed, have had any cause to
complain, Or indeed Except those whose attention was
drawn TO the matter) have been conscious OF the pro-
ceedngs. The night-men, whose occupation Is usually
disgusting and dangerous as to be most painful to
contemplate, have expressed their astonshment at tins
wonderful relief Thus dsinected this material be-
comes a valuable II is said TO prevent the poa-
disease, but require further time and experience
before that be ascertaned there is no doubt from
several observations, however, about its being highly
ferzng to vegetation IN general mueh more SO than
the night soil unmlxed with this fluid because the
Oh IN 6v all
stoy all that is at once huru to life and offensive to the
sense of smell
In Sickness also the relief afforded will be extraor
binary. sick room may be, in the course OF two or
three minutes, perfectly purified by the of small
quantity OF this fluid and all that was dsagreeable to the
senses before replaced by of singular freshness
The crowded wards of hospitals have been not only thus
purified, but the creation OF any offensive smell at all has
been prevented by it. In thinking of number OF suffer
whose proximity IN their state OF sickness and pros
traton necessarily renders each OF offence and ad
donal suffering to ALL the blessing of this power to
prevent this portion of their calamity very striking
But there is important consequence involved
The generator of all the classes of infectious disease the
poison which, arising from the decomposition OF animal
and vegetable matter becomes dused in the atmosphere
and, being inhaled into the lungs, causes that dreadful
scouge, fever neutralZed, is actually destroyed by
the chemical action of this fluid. The danger to which
and medical attendants perpetually exposed
and which, in the present bad form of fever prevailing to
so great an extent has been particularly fatal will be
acquired that effect IS produced on thy
patients themselves by this publication of the air around
them. We should naturally have expected this and it
proved fever patient becomes in himself
Of fever All the exhaations given off from him are
dangerous to life and while he nhaes Them he
tnuay taking fresh doses of the poison that has pros
trated him. BY annihating the poison, wonderful
sistance is given to the physician in curing him. Hitherto
this effect has been Produced far possible by vent
iatlon in all well regulated sick and hospitals
but the new fluid does it much more completely. Vent
ilaon only dutesthis gets rid of the poison In the
crowded and l-ventilatcd wards, filled with cases
of dysentery and fever in the dreadful form prevail
ing Ireland it has been found sufficient to wave in the
air. and to hang round the beds, pieces of linen saturated
in the fluid and the state of the atmosphere around has
m m uw to m hos a
them into the dreadful service of breathing it, into OF
perfect safety and purity while the poor suffering patients
declared themselves to be sin heaven