The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-07-09
Disinfectants.

Bad smells indicate the presence of de-
composition somewhere and in some
form or other, and this is the sure har-
binger of zymotic diseases. Wherever
bad smells are found it may be assumed
that the generation Of bacteria is going
on, and these subtle and various forms of
the life which proceeds from decay have
been proved by modern science to be
always more or less associated with the
causation of preventable diseases. Good
disinfectants, If used in abundance, will
always destroy these becteria, and when
this is effected we know that the causes
of disease are destroyed with them.
Hence, it is important to know what sort
of disinfectants are good. With view
to ascertain this, DIR. George M. Stern
bers, surgeon in the United States army,
has been making some valuable expert
ments, under the auspices of the National
Board Of Health. In the latest bulletin
issued by that body he reports his OBJ
servation in connection with carbolic acid
and other disinfectants. The result of
his experiments was not favorable to the
employment of carbolic acid. The crude
acid, such as manufactured and sold in
New Orleans expressly for disinfecting
purposes, utterly failed to prevent the
formation of bacteria. Test tubes, in
which the acid was used in connection
with bacteria, all failed to prevent the
substance from spreading and propagat-
ing itself by incubation, except when
the pure acid, in its crystalline form, was
used to the extent of ten grains. This
amount, Dr. Sternberg says, is equiva-
lent to seventeen pounds Of pure acid for
room twelve feet square and twelve feet
high q, 728 cubic feet), "and" he adds,
''to fulfill the conditions of the expert
ment in disinfecting on large scale, it
would be necessary to scatter this amount
over the floor of room having these d.
mansions, and to suspend articles to be
disinfected near the floor for at least six
hours, care being taken that all aper-
lures we're closed so that the fumes Of
acid might not escape" It would re-
quire sixty-eight pounds Of the crude
acid to disinfect the same room under the
same conditions. Forty-six fluid ounces
of the crude acid in a room Of this size
failed to destroy the potency of vaccine
virus, and consequently would fail to de-
stroy the yellow fever germ or the poison
of smallpox In conclusion, DIR. Stern
berg says of his interesting and valuable
experiments that they show ''that the
popular idea, shared, perhaps, by some
physicians, that an odor of carbolic acid
in the sick room, or in foul privy, is
evidence that the place is disinfected is
entirely fallacious, and, in fact, that the
use of this agent as q Vototile diSiqJect-
ant Is dn1practicable, because the ex-
pense of the pure acid and the enormous
quantity required to produce the de-
sired result" Sulphurous and nitrous
acid gases, however, and chlorine, he
found to destroy bacteria at once and eff
fectively. The general result of his ex-
periments is to show that chloride of
lime is more trustworthy disinfectant
than carbohc acid. 1t is probable that
strong solution of copperas (sulphate OF
iron), literally used, is the best wash for
promoting the purity Of drains and sinks.
But it must be used literally and regu-
larry in order to secure good results.