The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-22
Farm aud Garden.
Conducted by DR.. THOMAS POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture

While the subject discussed in the fol-
lowing article is not Agricultural it is
one of great interest to all, and we think
the article valuable one, and should
be reserved for future reference. 1t is
from the pen of DR.. James P Nichols, an
accomplished chemist, practical farmer,
and editor Of the Boston Journal of
Chemistry. Most persons, including ply
sicians, have been acting in the dark as
regards the use of the destroyers of
contagion. - Sulphurous acid gas" pro-
duced by burning sulphur, and by the
action of strong acid or bisulphite of
soda, is known to be powerful de-
stroyer OF contagion of fungas growths,
and OF insects. l have frequently used
it in n-houses to destroy insects there,
and in a greenhouse to destroy aphis or
plant lice on plants. Sulphur itself is
destroyer of mildew on grapes; this is
fungas disease. In the use of this rem
edy, the room must be shut up, and of
course every person excluded.
Destroyers of Contagion.
Modern science has let in food of
light upon the cause of many illnesses.
and the nature of the contagion upon
which their propagation depends. Not
only has the cause of disease been traced
to agents external to the body, but the
exact form of these disturbing organisms
has been pointed out. They consist of
minute solid PARTICLES, probably in most
OF all cases of vegetable nature: thew
are therefore non-gaseous, and in no re-
spect comport themselves like gaseous
bodies.
The contagious principle of fever is
cork-screw-like spirilla in other diseases
it appears as large motionless rod in
others as solid body, ragged and nearly
round These bodies float in the atmos
phere in clouds, and when inhaled, or
when they come in contact with abraded
surfaces, incubation occurs, and the dis
ease is of the type peculiar to the nature
OF the specific poison. The bodies start
In the circulation a morbid chemical &C.
ton, or serve as a ferment, which dis
turbs or devitalizes the blood, and thus
produces most serious illnesses.
Malarial fevers, measles, dphtheria,
scarlet fever, smallpox, and many other
alarming diseases result from blood
poisoning through the action of these
curious external agents. So long as the
nature OF the noxious material was un
known, the chemical agents, as disinfect-
ants, deodorants, antiseptics, ETC.. were
selected to satisfy the most various and
dlsslmllar theories as to its nature and
properties; but since better understand
ing has been reached, more intelligent
and scientific selection and use of these
substances can be made. tits important
that IN families where cases of zymotic
diseases prevail, accurate knowledge
should be possessed as to the methods OF
preventing spread of the contagion.
Every physician should be well informed
on the subject, but unfortunately some of
them are not
Of course, the septic germs, in cases of
smallpox, diphtheria, etc., fall upon the
floors and walls or rooms, upon the bed.
and upon the clothing of attendants
Upon these deposits the usual solid or
liquid disinfectants exposed in the room
have little or no effect; nothing but
thorough cleansing and ventilation, with
the use OF gaseous disinfectants, will ex
pei them. The best method to disinfect
clothing is by the use Of heat. Expert
ment has shown that no form of conta gion
can withstand temperature of 22Oo F.
therefore, clothing placed in a hot box
two hours, with dry heat above that of
boiling water, is thoroughly disinfected;
or it may be soaked in boiling water with
the same results
Vaccine matter may be taken as the
type of virulent material and expert
ments upon this poison prove that disin-
fectants, to be efectual, must be used in
much larger quantity than has usually
been considered necessary. IF the de-
stroying agent is of an acid nature, the
virus must be rendered permanently and
strongly acid. The end desired is to de-
stroy the infective completely. 1t is not
generally known that carbolic acid, in
quantity equal to two per cent of the
virus, is incapable Of doing this work
upon vaccine virus. 1t deprives it of its
infective power for the time being. but
this returns as soon as the carbolic acid
has escaped through exposure to the air.
Chlorine is gaseous body, and is in
ordinary cases an effective disinfectant.
1t is, however, inferior to sulphurous
A