Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-07-29
THE USE OF DISiNFECTANTs.
The Popular Mistake Made I'm Regard
tho Common Purpose of them.

committee on disinfection and dis
infectants, appointed by The American
Public Health Association, in one of its
reports says that tho real object of dis
injection is to prevent the extension Of
infectious diseases by destroying the
specific infectious material which gives
rise to them. This is accomplished by
the use OF disinfectants. There can be
no partial disinfection of such material:
either its injecting power is DESTROYED
or it is not. In the latter case there is
q failure to disinfect Nor can there no
any disinfection in the absence Of In
fectous material. The specific infect
ing power of several kinds of infectious
material, the report says, is due to the
presence of living Heterogeneous,
known IN q general way as disease
germs" and practical sanitation is now
based on the belief that the injecting
agents in all kinds of infectious ma
terials are of this nature; therefore,
disinfection consists essentially in the
destruction of disease germs. But
popularity the term disinfection is used
in much broader sense Any chemi-
cal agent that destroys or masks bad
odors or arrests putrefactive decompo-
sition is spoken of as a disinfectant. 1t
is common to speak OF disinfecting a
cesspool or bad-smelling stable.
THE popular use Of this term" says
the report, "has led to much misappre-
hension, and the agents which have
been found to destroy bad odors-
deodorizers-or to arrest putrefactive
decomposition ntisaptics-have been
confidently recommended and extern
sively used for the destruction of
disease germs in the excreta of patients
with cholera, typhoid fever, etc. The
injurious consequences which are likely
to result from such misapprehension
and misuse of the word disinfectant
will be appreciated when it is known
that recent researches have demon
strated that many of the agents which
have been found useful as deodorizers,
or rs antiseptics, are entirely without
value for the destruction of disease
germs"
This is true as regards the sulphate
OF iron or copperas, II salt extensively
used with tho idea that it is disinfec-
tant; while, as n matter of fact, sui
plate of iron in saturated solution
does not destroy the vitality of disease
germs or the injecting power of mate
rial containing them. Nevertheless, it
is cheap and very valuable antiseptic
Antiseptic agents exercise restrain
ing Influence on the development of
disease germs, and the report recon-
mends their use during epidemics,
when masses OF organic material in the
vicinity of human habitations cannot be
completely destroyed or removed or
disinfected. Ii is asserted that large
number of the proprietary "dsinfect-
ants" so called, sold in the market are
simply deodorizers or antiseptics Of
greater or less value. and are entirely
Enthusiastically for disinfecting pur-
poses. "Antiseptics," the report says,
"are to be used Mt all times when it is
impracticable to remove filth from the
vicinity of human habitations, but they
are q poor substitute for cleanliness. !"
Attention is called to the importance
of destroying at seaport quaran tine
stations infectious material that has its
origin outside of the boundaries of the
United States, and the destruction of
material given off from persons suffer-
ing from infect GUS disease, whether of
imported or indigenous origin. The
importance of the proper use of dis
infoctants in the sick-room is also re-
ferred to.
In few pages of general directions"
the report gives information about the
use of standard solutions of chloride of
lime, corrosive sublimate, and other
familiar disinfectants, both on persons
and clothing. In the absence of a
suitable disinfecting chamber, it will
he necessary to burn infected clothing
and bedding. the value of which would
be destroyed by immersion in boiling
water or in one of the disinfecting So
lutions recommended. In the sick
room no disnfectant can take the place
of free ventilation and cleanliness.