The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-05-17
THIBODAUX. L. SATURDAY, MAY I'm 1879

! Vhe eAtttS vi CiiiOTlue anu SillpnU-
rons acid were studied upon
known living organisms; the pro.
liabilities being thought to be in
favor OF the theory that complete
disiutection should destroy at
least all known forms of life.
although it may be true that the
tenacity of life of the infective
matter of various diseases differs,
just as the degree of cold neces-
sary to put a stop TO yellow fever
is much less than that required
to arrest the spread Of cholera.
Chlorine and sulphur fumes, in
sufficient quantity, were found to
be efficient in killing insects, fun.
gi, bacteria. aud infusoria' the
objections to chlorine in houses
being that it is more costly, that
it's use is more difficult. and that
it destroys metals, texible fabrics,
and colors.
| The burning of ten grammes
of sulphur for each cubic meter of
air space, tightly closed, was
found not to kill bacteria. iufuso.
ria, or all insects; twenty grammes
however, were proved to be suffi-
cient for that purpose. Que vol
ume of water, when saturated at
$50 Fab, absorbs thirty seven
volumes of sulphurOus acid
enough to kill all the low organ
isms found in putrid urine.
The following articles were
found uninjured after several
hours exposure to an atmosphere
in which twenty .grammes of sui.
phur had been burned to every
cubic meter of air space: A clock
Of steel and brass, rusty and
clean nails, gold and silver money,
a military epaulet, various color
ed silk articles, cOlored rug,
calico. down pillows, gilt framed
looking glass, books, water in an
uncorked bottle, flour, meat, salt, d,
bread, apples. cinnamon, vanilla,
cigars, wall paper, oil paintings,
vanished articles, gas fixtures,
water fixtures; u highly polished
razor had a slightly cloudy ap-
pearance on its upper side, but
that was easily rubbed Oft. The
-four and meat were cooked and
eaten, and the cigars were smok
ed, without any abnormal taste
or smell being observed; in the
bread not all of the observers
noticed a slightly acid taste; the
inside portion Of the apples was
unchanged, the skin was slightly
sour; the Water, after standing,
had an acid reaction, but no de
cided taste Or smell. Litmus pa
per placed between the leaves O
books and under the carpet was
turned bright red. Many Of the
/ articles exposed had a decided
smell of sulphur at first, but tina
soon disappeared.
The expert ments seemed t.
show that clothing, bedding, ant
other articles may be disintecteC
without being changed chemically
. or injured; and it should be add
t ed that practically this methot
has apparently accomplished per
feet disinfection, as tested il
Berlin.
If we may Judge from these re
suits, effective diSintectiou, b.
burning sulphur, requires eigl
teen ounces to each space of on
thousand cubic feet. The sulphu
should be broken in small pieces
burned over a vessel of water c
sand, so as to avoid danger trol
fire, and if the room is large,
should be put in separate vessel
in different places. The ROOT
should be tightly closed for 81
hours and then aired; it is bett,
that the room should be warl
than cold. OF course, efficient
disinfected air is, during the pre-
cess of disinfec ion, irrespirabi
Most articles may be disinfectt
in this way, if hung up loosely
the fumigated chamber, althOus
it would be an additional sal
~ guard 10 expose anything thic
like bed matrass, to prolOng'
II heat at temperature OF abo
M 24Oo Fab, and indeed, heat mu'
with our present knowledge,
considered the best disintectal
With this end in view, lOt
boards of health are advised
procure furnaces and laundrl,
as is commonly done in 9th
countries, to De used for the ST
purpose of disinfecting articl
which have been exposed to
= infectious diseases, as recOmmt
ded in the Ninth Annual Rep
of the state Board OF Heal
of and described by DR.. a.
ven johnson, III an exhaustive pa
,ful on scarlet feve. opp. 255 ct Sc
n.t. IN ,h.t rannrt OF courSp. n mi