The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-02

of the most reliable Of all disinfectants,
but 1t must pe mixed with other substances
or diluted The housekeeper should not
be deferred by the unpleasant odor Of car
bolic acid from using 1t freely. An un.
pleasant odor is not necessarily an impure
odor; on the contrary in this case, and in
some others, the unpleasant odors are the
pure ones, which must be used to destroy
the less Objectionable and the impure. Dl-
lutte pure carbolic acid with 80 or 80 per
cent. Of warm water, and you have u bear
able article. BE very careful in handling
carbolic acid it is quite poisonous in the
crude state. In the form of II mixture
formed into powder, however, the dan.
ger is minimized; it can in this way be
used much more freely.
Concerning the practical uses Of carbolic
acid, n celebrated chemist says; "A con-
siderable saving might be effected by per
sons who use IL largely If the mixing were
done by themselves instead of by the man.
uflcturcrs, and the same tins used over
again. while the article SO made would
have many advantages. 1t could, in the
first place, be made as strong rs the neces-
stiles of any particular occasion might re-
qure, and in the next place the pure acid
may be used for house disinfcction, and so
lessen the disagreeableness of the smell,
while the common kinds may be employed
for yards, stables, lighthouses, etc. The
method of making powders is very simple.
About four ounces of the acid, by weight
or measure, should he added to one pound
of prccipltnied chalk, or fine sand, or
mould, or any other harmless substance in
timely subdivided state, and thoroughly
mixed in u large bowl. This powder will
be suitable for all ordinary purposes, and
will be far superior to many of the disin-
fecting powders sold at twice the cost.
Chlorine gas is good disinfectant in
scarlet fever cases There is no use in en-
ploying this, however, unless it is thor
oughly done. In typhoid cases, chloride
and sulphate of zinc, and sulphate OF cop
per are excellent substitutes for carbolic
acid. Excreta from patients should in
variably be disinfected with dilute form
of one Of these substances. 1t is well to
boil bedclothes and beds with the addition
of some suphute or chloride OF zinc solu-
tons.
The woodwork of room in which the
patient is confined should be cleanscd with
soap and water mixed with II little carboic
acid.
In our last number We spoke of the use
OF sulphurous acid gas or the vapors from
burning lump sulphur, and OF the advan-
tage of this disinfectant for fumigation
over others. Do not spare the sulphur in
, contagious diseases where rooms have
been contaminated, and be careful not to
set fire to the clothes. Bedding must
sometimes be taken apart before fumiga-
ting room and its contents.
1t may be interesting to our readers to
learn why we employ disinfecants. In
disease decomposition takes place; decay
ing matter is present, full of minute organ
isms, and fermenting process is contin-
ually going on. The gases produced by
this process, by this decomposition, are so
far as we know, without exception, harm
ful. A good disinfectant either absorbs or
destroys the poison of these gases. Pre-
| peh!ion is the first care of the sanitarian !;
but then if the poison is present, destruction
must be thought OF next. Good sewers,
well-laid drains, and properly arranged
pipes will frequently prersnt the need of
disinfectnnts but if disease find its way
into the house, it is OF the most absolute
necessity that we know how best to meet
it and its dangers, and to prevent its
spread to others, as well as to keep it from
| assuming vrulent form in the Affected