The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-15
DassNrI,CEtNrs.
by Edwin W SNOW, ". D., Sayrri
tcndcut OF Health, Providence. ~.

tBy Edwin ". SNOW, "a. .. Sayrrtt
tendcnt Of Health. Providence. Is. Z,
The Use of di.inlcctants TO prevent i'm.
pure air, especially during the present
month, is Of the very first importance. and
should be universal. The expense Of dis
intectants is very slight and within the reach
OF all, and If any person j, unable tu pro-
cure them they will he fur ishcd free Of on
pense. Under these circumstance. Ger
tainly no one has a right to poison hi, fun
lily, or his neighbor's family, with the foul
air Of privy vaults, ccss-p0ols, or other de-.
posts Of filth. Aside from the very great
danger to health, it would seem that con.
siderations Of comfort alone ought to induce
everybody to use disinfectants freely. One
of the cheapest and best dislnicctan;s +.
this:
Take five (j) pounds of coppcras and
dissolve in three or four gallon, Gone pail
full of hot water, mixing with it half a pint
of crude carboliC acid. Larger qunniitic,
in the same proportion.
This may be used freely in vault, or sink
drains until all offensive odors are removed.
The first time it is used considerable guam
tity may be necessary; after that Il small
quantity occasionally will be sufficient.
The cOpperas, in quantities of five pounds
or more, will cost three cents per pound,
and the carbolic acid will cost one dollar
and twenty-five cents per gallon, so that
! pailtul of the dsinfectant will not cost more
| than twenty-five cents,
? Another liquid disnfcctaut, excellent
to pour into sink-pipes and water closets in
| houses. is the nitrate of lead dissolved. one
! pound to Il gallon of water. 1t is clean.
without odor, and may he used freely whcr-
ever needed, The nitrate of lead will cost
about twenty-five cents per pound.
j. Pcrmanganatc of potash is am exec
| lent chemical disinfcctant to purih, cistcrn
| rain water that has become offensive.
| The quantity necessary can only he deter
mined by trial. Dissolve quarter of n
pound of the crude or impure pcrmangan-
ate of potash in two or three quarts OF WA
ter and pour it into the Cstern, stirring it
well from the bottom. If necessary repeat
the dose, The impure pcrmanganatc of
potash will cost about one dollar per pound.
T. Crude carbolic acid, largely diluted
with water, makes most valuable disin-
fectant to sprinkle in yards, about privies
on heaps of filth, in filthy lanes, and cs-
pcCially upon offensive manure in stables
1t will prevent offensive odors, and also
drive away flies. The crude article, con-
tanning twenty-five to thirty per cent. of
carboic acid, will cost about 81 % per gal
lon and one gallon is sufficient to mix with
one barrel of water stirring it briskly
when used.
>. Carboatc of lime, and several disin-
fccting powders in market containing car
bolic acid, are all valuable, and safe to
sprinkle freely in cellars, yards ond in any
place where foul air is perceived. Chic
ride OF lime dry, and giving off chloride gas
acts quickly to remove offensive odors
and is often very valuable for this purpose
on account of its speedy and diflusiye ac
ton. But chloride of lime soon absorbi
moisture, and loses its power, 50 that fol
most uses as Il disinfectant, it is not as
valuable as carbolatc Of lime, and Other
powders containing carbolic acid.
6. Ventilation, and whitewashing witt
| fresh lime a,e the best disintectants fol-
cellars, and dark, damp places. In adj
dition let the sunlight and fresh air into al
such places when it is possible.
There will he. no epidemic of cholera
| here this month, or this year. but cholera
infantum, diarrhpa and other diseases
which might he prevented to some cXten
by disntectants, will certainly be here ant
will probably destroy more lives than thu
cholera would if it were present. But it i
now as always before; we fret ourselve
greatly, and strive to turn the world up
side down about disease that only ap
pears at long intervals, ana is comparative
2 ly Of slight Importance, willis we take IL
: special heed of diseases which are with IL
every year destroying hundreds of live,
Let us now, and ut all times, use di>infcC
tants freely and prevent all the impure nj
that it is possible to prevent; but Away
+ remember that the use OF disinfcctant-
: only an apology for filth and that on
greatest efforts should be made to thorough