The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-10
A SANITARY TRACT
WHICH IS WORTH PRESERVING FOR
FUTURE REFERENCE.
Disinfection Made Practical, Easy and
Effective - Directions and Formulas
of Authorities for the Destruo-
tIon Of Disease Germs.
fChicago Newa1

prepared, at the request OF the sanitary
council OF the Mississippi valley, a report on
disinfection aud dsinfectants which en-
bodies the latest conclusions Of science on
the subject OF deodorizers, antiseptics, and
disinfectants. This report was prepared at q
time when an invasion Of Asiatic cholera
seemed imminent, and the language Of the
committee has been largely Influenced by
that consideration.
DESTRUCTION OF GERMS.
Too much stress is consequently laid upon
the scientific definition Of the term @disin-
fection." The committee limits its use to
the destruction Of specific Infectious ma
terial which causes specific Infectious con-
tagious disease-for example, Asiatic chol-
era, smallpox, typhoid fever, diphtheria,
scarlet fever, etc. 1t has been proved for
several kinds Of Infectious material that its
specific injecting power Is due to the pres
ence OF living micro-organsms known in
general way as disease germs" and prac-
tcal sanitation is now based upon the
belief that the injecting agents in
all kinds of Infectious material are
of this nature. "Disinfection," there
fore, according to the committee,
consists essentially in the destruction
| OF disease germs There can be no partial
disinfection Of such material either its in
fecting power Is destroyed or it Is not In
the latter case there is a failure to disinfect
Nor can there he any disinfection in the alb
sence Of infectious material"
For practical purposes this distinction Is
entirely unnecessary. The disinfectants rec
commended by the committee will prevent
destroy foul smells, therefore they are
"deodorizsrs" as we'll; they will prevent or
| arrest putrefactive decomposition, therefore
they are also "antiseptics." large num-
Der Of the proprietary "disinfectants,' SO
called, which are in the market, are simply
| deodorizers or antiseptics, Of greater or less
value, but are entirely untrustworthy for
| disinfecting purposes.
CHLORIDE OF LIME.
Promising that neither deoderizsrs, anti
septics, nor disinfectants can be relied upon
as substitutes for cleanliness the following
are recommended as the most efficient and
the cheapest disinfectants:
Standard Solution No I-Dissolve chlor-
ide Of lime of the best quality in soft water,
In the proportion Of four ounces to the
gallon.
As the value Of this solution depends upon
the amount of chloride it contains, it Is
essential that the chloride OF lime be fresh
Such lime may be bought by the quantity
for cents per pound; the cost OF the solu-
tion is, therefore, less than cents gallon.
1t is available for free AMI general use in
privy vaults, sewers, sink drains, refuse
heaps, stables, and wherever else the odor Of
the disinfectant is not objectionable
A quart or more a day may be used in
an offensive vault, and such quantities as
may be necessary In other places 1t may
be used In a sprinkler in stables and else
where. In the sick-room 1t NAV be used in
vessels, cuspidors. etc. Use one pint of this
solution for the disinfection of each dis
charge in cholera, typhoid fever, etc. Mix
we'll and leave in vessel for at least ten min
utes before throwing into privy-vault or
water-closet The same directions apply for
the disnfection Of vomited matterS In.
fected sputum should be discharged directly
into a cup half full OF the solution
HIGHLY POISONOUS.
Standard Solution No. 2-Dissolve cor
rosive sublimate and permanganate of pot
ash in soft water in the proportion Of two
drains of each salt to the gallon.
This is to be used for the same purposes
and in the same way standard solution
No. !. 1t Is equally effective, but it Is nee
essary to leave it for longer time in con-
tact with the material to be disinfected-at
least an hour. The only advantage which
this solution has over the chloride Of lime
solution consists In the fact that it Is odor-
less, while the odor Of chlorine in the sick
room Is considered by some persons OBJ jec-
tionahle The cost is little over cents q
gallon, the corrosive sublimste costing 90 or
70 cents a pound, and the permanganats
about the same 1t must be remembered
that this solution is highly poisonous 1t Is
proper, also to call attention to the fact
that it will injurs lead pipes il passed
through them in considerable quantities.
LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE.
Standard Solution No 3.-To one part Of
Labarraque's solution Qiquor soda chlori-
,,atuu aAI Axua oDfo
luton is more expensive than the solution OF
chloride of lime, and has no special advan
tages for the purposes mentioned. Ii will
cost by the quantity between and cents
gallon.
The surface Of the body Of a sick person
or of his attendants, when soiled with in
fectious discharges. should be at once
cleansed with a suitable dsinfecting agent
For this purpose standard solution No.
may be used. In diseases like smallpox
and scarlet fever. in which the infectious
agent is given Off from the entire surfacs OF
the body, occasional ablutions with Labar-
raque's solution, diluted with twenty parts
Of water, will be more suitable than the
stronger solution above recommended. In
all infectious diseases the surface of the
body Of the dead should be thoroughly
washed with one Of the standard solutions
above recommended, and then envelopei in
q sheet saturated with the same
CORROSIVE sUBLIMATE AGAIN.
Standard Solution No. 4-Dissolve corro-
sive sublimate in water in the proportion of
four ounces to the gallon and add one dram
OF permanganate OF potash to each gallon to
give color 10 the solution One fluid ounce
Of this standard solution to the gallon of wa
ter will make suitable solution for the dis
infection Of clothing The articles to be dis
infected must be thoroughly soaked with the
disiufecting solution and left In 1t for at
~fkn so.. -.
wrung out and sent to the wash. Before
dropping the clothing into the solution add
enough of standard solution No l or No.
to destroy the purple color, small guam
tity win be sufficient .....
Clothing may also be disinfected by inn
mersion for two hours In solution made by
diluting standard solution No. with nine
parts OF water-one gallon in ten. This So
luton is preferable for general use, es-
pecially during the prevalence Of epidemics,
on account of the possibility Of accidents
from the poisonous nature Of the standard
solution No. 4. When diluted as directed
this solution may, however be used without
danger from poisoning through the medium
Of clothing immersed in ID, or by absorption
through the hands I'm washing. A poison
oas dose could Scarcely be swallowed by
mistake. owing 10 the metallic taste Of the
solution, and the considerable quantity
which would be required to produce fatal
result-at least half a pint
INoTE. -Solutions OF corrosive sublimits
(Nos . and " should not b placed in metal
receptacles A wooden tub or earthen
crock Is a suitable receptacle for such 70
lutionGI
DIsIsPEcTIoN OF THE sicK-RooM.
In the sick-room no disinfectant can taks
the place OF free ventilation AMI cleanliness
u Ia an axiom In sanitary science that 1t is
Impvaotioabls to disinfect an occupied
apartment, for the reason that disease
germs are not destroyed by the presence In
the atmosphere Of any known disiEfsctant
In respiraele quantity. Bad odors may bs
neutralixsd, but this does not constitute dis
infection in tho ssnss in which tho term 4
here ed Thess bad odors ara, Tor ths
most part, an indication OF want OF cleanli-
ness, or OF proper ventilation. and IL y bit
ter 70 turn contaminated air out OK the win
dow, or up this chimney, than TO attempt 70
purify 10 by the use OF volatile chsmicai
agents, such M carbolic acid. chlorine, eta,
which ara NIL moro or leS offensive to the
sick, and are usele . 20 Tar NJ disinfection-
r,rnnorIv eo-raliad ia cni1oernad