The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-07
Chloride Of Lime as a Disinfectant.

Chloride of lime has long been used as q dis
infectant on account OF ITS cheapness and ats
superior efficacy, No other article can be had
in eufIiclent quantities to be substituted for IT.
Permanganate OF potash IL one of the best dis
inlectants we have; but its high price would
effectually preclude it, appncatlon oy the ION;
phenic acid and pheuate OF lime are also excel
lent for some purposes, but must always remain
dear; and there are numerous other compounds
of value in a small way, but none OF them can
replace the chloride OF lime.
The action of chloride of lime as disinfectant
is not generally understood. Strictly speaking,
bleaching and disntectng are one and the same
thing. In bleaching. the colorlng matter Is de-
composed by the chlorine; the hydrogen of the
color either combining with the chlorine t. form
hydrochoric acid, or going to the oxygen TO
form water In the process OF dlslnlectlng, the
hydrogen of the bad gases is at once seized upon
by the chlorine, or bv the ozone, and the odor
is thus destroyed. The operation is identically
the same as in bleaching. The only difference
is that in the one case the hydrogen of the color
is removed, and in the other the hydrogen OF the
Odor.
1t is probably true that all substances which
bleach will also dlsinect; yet there are sub
stances which Will disinect wnicn will not
bleach, but these compounds are no. properly
speaking, disinleCtants. They accomplish their
work negatively - operating as preventyes
rather than as cures. THIS distinction ought to
be understood to prevent mistakes. For exam
pie, creosote retards the decay OF many organic
substances, and so do alcohol, glycerlne phenlc
acid, etc, and thus they may be said to disln-
ieCt; but ii the bad gases have begun to arise
they would not prove efficient. They cannot
destroy what has already been created. In the
practice OF medicine 1t is necessary to suit the
remedy to the disease, and the same Is true in
1he application of dsinlectants; but IN the lat
ter case the range OF evils Is not so great. The
first is a question OF medical practice; the lat
ter, one OF chemical reaction. Wnere ammonia
is evolved salts OF IRON can Ue used, but ChlO-
ride of lime can also be applied; and there are
very few instances where chlorine will not ac-
complish the result better than any other agent.
In the use OF chloride OF lime, care should be
taken not to have TOO much OF II in confined
apartments, and purchasers should beware OF
old stock which mas lost its virtue from long
storage. Not anticipating an unusual demand
the English manufacturers have confined their
production OF this article to their own wants,
and there is a likelihood OF limited supply for
a short time. This is unfortunate for thus CITY
alone will require more than five hundred casks,
and Southern and Western cities will be large
consumers during the coming summer. We
dare say that the Board of Health appreciate
the Importance of securing ample supply
before the price is run up by spectators to an
usual figures; and private citizens can also
avoid the inevitable rise by promptly securing
all that they may require during the summer.
The powders must be kept in closed vessels, and
used in moderate quantities. Too much chlorine
is highly dele1erious, and may occasion diseases
of the throat and permanent cold. On this
account 1t is often wise to have some other well
recommended disintectant to be employed where
chlorine would prove mconveuient.
The cheapest and best remedy OF all is perfect
cleanliness. There will then be nothing to dis
infect, and only wa!er will be in demand.-N.
T. EUening Post.