Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-08-01
4ow to U.e DIslnGeotants.

Having promised that ventilation or the
hest of air and cleanliness are the two
chief methods of preventing contamina-
tion of air, we might also have added
that dampness, such as arises from undue
stagnation of moisture, is so potent an
agent in stirring organic matter into ac-
tivity that it too must be guarded against.
If air, dryness, and sunlight find their
way into deep. dark places and suck up
the damp, and if storm-water is properly
carried off and the underground properly
drained, our occasion for additional meth
DDS is comparatively small. Still, as there /
are sudden causes of bad odors or befoul-
ment, as hot sewers and close apartments |
and foul surroundings are sometimes in
evitable, we need to know what can best
be done to counteract the effects. We can
speak of these. under three classes. The
first simply act as dryers, and, by absorb
ing the water needed to carry on putre-
faction, suspend it. The design of the
second class is so rapidly to oxidize de-
composing body as to prevent the forma-
ton of hurtful compounds. A third class
seem to arrest decomposition by some ac-
tion not yet fully understood, which may
be either chemical or molecular. Much
is probably done by so combining or CO.
agulating the albuminous substances as
to remove germ food.
| These classes of disinfectants are not
fully separable In practice, and often
need to be used together, since the differ
ent causes and stages of fermentation are
present. Those which act by oxidation
are designed so to hasten decomposing
body, through its changes, as not to give
time for the formation or retention of the
hurtful gases of decay.
Water purifies; not merely as wash,
but because containing air in solution. 1t
hastens oxidation, and all the more when
in motion.
Ffnely-divided powders, although not
direct oxidizers, condense the gases and
bring condensed air in contact with nox-
ious particles, and so destroy them.
Then we have such articles as perman-
ganate of potash, chlorine, ozone, sulphur
GUS acid. iodine, which 1iberate much oxy-
: gen, and SO furnish a supply for appro-
priation by the noxious material. Here
the amount and condition of filth is the
measure of the quantity needed.
Such means do good by destroying glodors
and by thus removing the dangerous re
suits of septic fermentation. Better still
t if we could arrest the decomposition; an(
] this is what the third class seeks to do
OF these are carbolic acid and variou
salts of iron, zinc, copper, etc.
Qnicklime, although expensive as
general disinfectant, is valuable as an ab
r sorber and dryer, and may be used a
= whitewash with advantage, or in large
I quantities in foul localities. Dry eartl
, and gypsum or common plaster are usefu
}, as absorbents. Charcoal is of similar value
AS common disfnfectant fluid for dali.
r use the cheapest and best is 10 pounds o
k lsuIphate of iron z (copperas1 dissolved in
n gallons of water. 1t is made still bette
q q if a halt. pint of crude carbolic acid
! added. The sulphate of iron ought to b
st had at three cents per pound. The cal
Re bolic solution (Squibbs, No. 81, in quar-
ls le bottles, can be had at % cents per bottle
! with directions. But do not get it of
l. druggist, who will dilute it indefnitel
le and sell it by smell, instead of by definil
. solution. The six-gallon mixture wi
a thus cost not over 80 cents. A pint {
le this into the water-cIoset pan each day,
20 half-pfnt in house-vessels, and some dow
- the sink will cleanse, and not merely COZ
te. er one bad smell by another. Where thel
80 are masses of filth it must be used unit
le they are saturated. An article known
r dead-oil, containing about 10 per cent.
ly carbolic acid, has been used m uch in Ne
tt York City for brushing on dirty walls
/! throwing along fowl cutters. 1t may
nj mixed with the copperas solution, in Il
e, proportion of half gallon, in place
er the carbolic acid.
n, For soiled clothing it is recommend
y, wv that pound of sulphate of zinc (whi
w w vitriol) be put with gallons of waite
"a and gill of the carbolic solution adde
We Soak the clothing in this an hour, al
1 oa then remove to other water for boilin
Or the clothing may be at once placed
ire boiling water, to which chloride of liT
TX has been added in the proportion of o
aa ounce to gallon. Fol-. prompt disinf'
1st ton chloride of lime is most availab
from its ready oxydizing power, and
y, most is less unpleasant than the carbo
81 81 acid and copperas mixture, which is b
ok ter fitted for freer use. The chloride,
on now put up in waterproof and air-tie
i'll packages of a pound, is worth about
cents, and saves far more than that
many household each week. A f
grains in water is always good cleans
'ur and tablespoonful in a saucer each d;
vi VA stirred now and then and slightly moi
is ened, will, about sinks, ETC., appropri
ice much organic escapement, and will
ms harmed far less thereby than wife, CT
~ dren, and servants. Where a room
ui- come to be greatly fouled--as by sma
ion pox or malignant fever-it is still us
am to place sulphur on a shallow dish in
oii center. of the room, remove all furnitl
la that might be tarnished, close the W
hat dows, set the sulphur on fire, and tt
leave. Thus the closed room is filled W
!. sulphurous acid fumes, which seem eff
i tually to destroy some of the formites
contagion. We feel that all househo
D. ers need to beeaware of the value of tn
an various disinfectants. There are circu
ing stances in which pure air and pure wa
IN will not accomplish all. If we wait
~ disease to arouse us, already has b.
,ali fafone. If unaware of the superiority
nad these natural and available tlisinfectar
IL you will at a greater cost, get in st
on on Carbolates of Lime, Bromoehleraium,
IS a other patented mixtures, or carbolie a
ear itself under some expensive tradem'
cry and scientific name. We do not know
!, If about the msOdls operamtli of all disinf
yer tants; but we do know that a few of tn
ore we have named bear the test both of
senses our chemistry, and our experien
and SO are to be approved. They are
70. to be substituted by others which mer