The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-01
DIsINFECTION,.

DESTRUCTION,
As Discussed by the Massachusetts, State
Board Of Health.
fspringfeld Republican,
Recent experiments made under the direc-
ton Of the International Cholera Commission
have shown that the ordinary methods OF dis
Infection are inefficient, and, In practice, they
have often failed TO arrest the spread Of infec-
Mous diseases. AS II is impossible TO expert
ment directly upon the unknown low organ.
isms, which are Thought to be the means Of
the effects Of chlorine and sulphur0us aeid
were studied upon known living organisms !;
the probabilities being thought to be til favor
Of the theory that com plete disinfectign should
though II may be true that the tenacity Of life
OF the infectlve matter Of various diseases dit
fers, just as the degree Of cold necessary to
put q stop TO yellow fever fs much less than
that required to arrest the spread OF cholera
quantity, were found to be efficient In killing
insects, fungi, bacteria and infusoria; the OBJ
lection to chlorine In houses being that 1T is
more costly; that Its use is more difficult, and
that IL destroys metals, textile fabrics and
for each cubic meter Of air space, tightly
closed, WAS found not to kill bacteria, infuso-
| ria or all insects; twenty grams, however,
were proved to be sufficient for that purpose.
The following articles were found uninjured
after several hours exposure to an atmos--
phere m which twenty grains Of sulphur had
been burned 10 every cubic meter Of Hir.space
"A clock of steel and brass, rusty and clean
lette, various colored silk articles, a colored
rug, calico, down pillows, d gilt-framed look
| ing.giass, books, water In an uncorked bottle,
flour. meat. salt, bread, apples, cinnamon,
vanilla, cigars, wall paper, oil paintings, var
ished articles, gas fixtures, water fixtures. A
appearance on It's upper side, but that was
easily rubbed off. The flour and meat were
cooked and eaten, and the cigars were smoked,
without any abnormal taste or smell being
noticed o slightly acid taste. The inside por-
tion Of the apples was unchanged; the skin
was slightly sour. The water, after standing,
had an acid reaction, but 10 decided taste or
smell. Ll aI., paper placed between tle
turned bright red. Many Of the articles ex-
posed had q decided smell OF sulphur ut first,
but that soon disappeared. The experiments
seemed TO show that clothing, bedding and
other articles may be disinfected without be-
| Ing changed, chemically or injured; and it
should be added that practically this method
has apparently accomplished perfect disinfec-
| ton as tested In Berlin. II we may judge
from, these results, effective disinfection, by
| DuIAlUk 6AlpHHly iGaAlISS tlRuU6tD OuIlGtS W
each spaee OF 1000 cubic feet. The sulphur
should be broken In small pieces, burned over
| q vessel OF water or sand, 80 as to avoid daI-
| ger from fire, and, If the room 10 large, it
should be put In separate vessels IN different
places. The room should be tightly closed
for ok hours and then aired; 1t Is better that
the room should be warm than cold. Oh
course, efficiently dlsinfected cir is, during
the process of disinfectiOn, trrespirable. Most
articles mny BIZ disinfected iii this way, II
hung up loosely III the fnmigated chamber,
although II would be On addition
thick. like e bed mattress. to pro
loenged heat ct 9 temperature Of about 24oo
knowledge, be considered the best disinfect..
ant. With this end In view, local boards OF
health are advised TO procure furnaces and
laundries, as is commonly done In other coun-
tries, to be used for the sole purpose of disin-
fecting articles which have been exposed to
the infectious diseases, as recommended In
the ninth report OF the State Board OF Health,
and described by Dr.. A. H.. johnson, In an
that report Of course . much simpler DIG.
injecting furnace than that described will
answer every purpose. For ordinary use,
In disinfectinR houses, the sulphur process
y the best a solution of chloride q
fluid to 900 Of water) very quickly kills
bacteria which have been placed il It, and ar
rests putrefaction. Caustic lime serves
equally as well lone to 1907, but leaves sedi-
ment not always easy to remove. Carbolic
acid In sufficient strength to be effective lone
to 1907 Is more expensive and Of disagreeable
odor. It is needless to add that "disinfeetr
ants" used In sufficient quantity to destroy
bad smells do not necessarily kill microscopic
living organisms; and 1t Is not supposed that
they directly influence the so-called germs"
of the infectious disease, unless concentrated
to the extent which has been mentioned
Finally, fresh, pure air acts as one Of the best
"disinfectants' by enormously diluting the In
fictitious matter, and, under certain conditions
including time must render 1t inert to all
effect even II not quickly destroying It, as
many think il the case.