New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
FORMALDEHYDE AS A DISINFECTANT.
DR. WILSON'S EXPERIMENTS WITH THE NEW
METHOD OF FIGHTING BACTERIA.

DR. WILSON'S EXPERIMENTS WITH THE NEW
METHOD OF FIGHTING BACTERIA.
Dr. f. H. Wilson, chief Of the bureau Of bacteri-
ology OF the Brooklyn Health Department, has been
experimenting for several months with formalde-
hyde gas as a dslnfectant for diphtheria and other
contagious or infectious diseases. Formaldehyde
has been occupying the attention OF the scientific
world to a considerable extent. In Germany
especially careful experiments have been making
to ascertain what disease bacteria It will kill and
how easily II will kill them Most OF the reports
from the German chemists and psychologists are
to the effect that nothing that has lie can WIN
stand the fearfuy deadly fumes OF this COM
pound and that 1t Is doing wonders as a disn-
fectant One or two reports have been little less
sanguine to Its power to destroy all disease
germs
Practical experiments have been made with for
ualdehyde In Paris and the Health Departments
OF two American cities, Washington and Brooklyn
have had 1t under consideration for some time
Dr. Wilson has run across some difficulties IN MS
experiments, which are believed to be rather mat
ters Of production and application of the gas than
a failure to kill bacteria AS he expects 10 make
an official report to Commissioner Emery before
long he Is not willing to talk much for publication
81 will say Just this much" said DR.. Wilson 4
think formaldehyde is far more reliable as DIS
nfectant than s sulphur. But do not thlnk II
Is as thorough as steam. Heat Is the best known
disinfectant and heat Is applied through steam
for disInfectng.'
Formaldehyde is a combination Of carbon. oxy-
gen and hydrogen. It results from the oxidation
OF wood alcohol, the cheapest known form OF alco,
hol. The German process Is to burn an aIcohoi
lamp beneath cone-shaped platinum gauze.
Some time ago dry sulphur fumes were used TOT
dsinfecting in of diphthera ard kindred ais
eases But It has been found that dry sulphur
fumes are of little value. DR.. Emery, soon aIter
taking office, added steam TO the sulphur FUMES
and found the result to be much better Tor TWO
reasons The steam softened dry substances such
as mucus in which the germs may have become
Embedded and the sulphur and steam mixed FORMED
sulphuric acid, which is much more active agent
against bacteria than dry sulphur.
Later DR.. Emery introduced the bread-rupping,
bchloride and steam method OF d.slnfection wnich
Is the most effective and likewise the most expen-
give The walls of the infected chamber were
rubbed with dry bread. to get germs that
NAV have lodged in the wall or ceiling to the moor
Bread was used because II did not inJure the wall,
paper Finally the floor was thoroughly washed
with bichlorlde, in contact with which bacteria
are certain to give up the ghost. Carpets ped
ding and other infected articles were taken to the
dsinfectng station and steamed.
So far as the experiments go. II seems that LOT.
maldehyde lies between the sulphur steam ana
the bread bichlortde systems. both as TO expense
and effectiveness. 1t Is more effective than sui
ph,lr and steam and little more expensive, but
neither so effective nor expensive as ochloride.
The latter II will be remembered. has been aoan-
doned because the Board Of Estimate last year
failed to provide sufficient appropriation for 1t.