Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-09
DISINFECTANTS.
Important Suggestions for Both City
and Country II esidents.

and Country Residents.
To the Editor of the Union and American:
Ia view of the many diseases which are
caused by the noXious gases rising from de-
caying matter, and especially the cholera,
which many very reasonably suppose VIII
soon pay our country another terrible visl-
ta,ion, it perhaps would not be amiss to
mention'the following disintectants, which,
if they will not prevent, will at least have
tie effect Of softening that fell scOurge if
properly used and applied. 1t must be I'M
derstOod at the beginning that there is quite
a difference existing between an antiseptic
and disinfectant. The one is a prereateT
of decay; The other retarder; though
some substances otter act in both ways as
common lime.
Compounds containing a great quantity
of oxygen and which, when mixed with fer
menting matter, are decomposed, have the
properties of efficient disentectants.
The products from vegetable decay are
for tie most part either alkaline or acid in
their reactions; hence powerful disintec-
tant must possess the property of uniting
with. or decomposng the alkalies and acid
ious substances formed during the different
STAGES of decomposition. ClOride Of lime
possesses al Of these properties in an emil
neut degree; it IS composed as its name sig
uifps. of clOrine and lime. The lime being
strongly alkaline unites with all the acids
represented by sulphuretted hydrogen.
The cloriue either combines wj.hor decom-
poses the alkalies represented by amonla,
there fore the sulphuretted and phosphuret-
ted hydrogen, which are highly noxious,
being arrested, the matter Is at the same
time rendered both harmless and Odorless.
Clorine itself is powerful dlsiafec'ant, and
is often used for this purpose. 1t may be
easily formed from cloride Of lime By The
addition Of an acid; vinegar will answer, OF
# more convenient, sulpEulc ACID. II
(cloripeD produces a violent cough when
inhaled. and the room should he thoroughly
free from it before any one ventures in. II
will also corrode nearly all metal substances
which may be present. The ClOride OF iron
and cloride of zinc when somewhat acid are
almost equally efficacious. They are diff
chit TO preserve in a solid form
and are generally dissolved in water
When the cloride Of iron is spilled
il produces a brown stain and it changes
purifying matter black. The Cl0ride o
zinc colors nothing when spilled aud changes
the foul matter white Both these sub
stances both deOdorise and disinfect. Ih'
cloride of zinc is preferable when the pric'
is not taken into consideration. It is offer
sold under the name Of Burnetts Disin
fccting fluid" Cloride OF zinc is used toi
preserving timber to which it is well suited
The sulpbate of iron or copperas Is some
times used TO remove smell and to fix The
volatile ingredients Of compost heaps;
has tie same objections as The cloride o
iron. the difference being that one IS
lirrrI and the other solid.
Lime is also generally and well know
as adsuhac.iug agent. If added 10 SUI
stances v hIcl are fresh and have not hegal
10 decay il Tetards putretacGOn. But
the substance las already commenced l
decOm pose il aCceleTatcs 1t. According
when thrown upon fsrnen,iug vege
table matter we find a. hrs ia
od0r IL reas1 d in intensity, the
afterwards the heap becomes compare
lively ne l.ral. This property of lime
r would be an Objectionable feature if 1t
used n an i'll ventilated place, where tn
odor could accumulate. Lime being strOngl
alkaline readily unites with the acids, thu
setting free tie alkalies in combination
Lime also stops and enters into combina
ton with su'phgretted and phosphorette
hydrogen. ! renders substances contain
ing nitroCeu liable TO oxide and form n
fric acid anG combine with Itself. Vine
applied in place not open to the air
should be treated ia the following name
The substance should be sprinkled with Il
lime. then heavily with sawdust, and afte
wards coycrel completely aud packed dow
with earth. Another substance which do'
remarkably well in stables aud on night Sc
is rypsun; II acts in the following manner
Tie carbonate of amonia rising from u
excrelious dcsomposes the sulphate OF iln
forming tie c4rbora,e Of lime, and the 81
phate Of auonia, bo5h odoriess substance
Sulphurous acd or fumes of burning 81
phur also act as a disinfectant by oXldlzi
sulphurct.rd hydrogen. Charcoal acts We
efficiently IS a purifier. This action Is s s
posed to be due % its great porosity. Il
oxygen IL It's pores is brought into su
close proximity to the putrescent matt
that it is brought within the range OF chez
zeal affinity and Hnites with it, forming
harmless compound. CHIRoN'
The r erford q. O. Vindicdtor So
q reIG.ll>.ae stone, ia the shape OF p
fectly ou ailoon, with a ear attached, &C
tanning A i.an with a signal flag, was rece