Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-07-03
KILLING GGRN.S IN BOOKS.
Dr. Hi,linss' Disooycry oc IN Effective
II.

Dr. Killings i)iA3FHfG o. IN e,icctNc
Disinccctsnt.
Charles Limb, in oie OF the quaintesi
and most charming OF his essays, dc
clarcs that le lls(els somc books when
they are soiled and Cog cared; that a
copy Of Fiyia;ns or Richardson pleases
him better wien it bears evidences OF
having been read ana feread--mayhe
by some lGnelv seanstrcss i'll her garnet
than in Nh Tie immaculate Wilderness
and cleanliness of Il new edition.
The sentiment is u pretty one, and
other writers, notably the present poet
laureate, have confessed TO sharing it
with Ella But it must he 4 good deal
harder nowadays TO feel it than it was
in the days of Lamb. Science has made
tremendous strides since then and With
each stride has crushed some sentiment
or belief dear TO orr ancestors. Science
takes the we'll thumbed volume, forgets
Ill tie puthos III it and finds instead
germs. And NEST people would confess
that sentiment comes Il little dear when
it carries typhoid or diphtheria along
with it.
Such, at any rate, is the opinion Of
the authorities Of the New York Public
library. When the reservoir is removed
from Bryant park and in its place is q
splendid library, there will be 4 free
lending department., as well rs horcad-
ing rooms and reference library. Every
inhabitant of New York of good charac-
tcr will be able to borrow books free of
charge, and the Public library authcri-
tics have been for some tiiueronsidcring
bow-the dangers inevitably resulting
from circulating volumes in every part
of the city may be avoided. Preventive
measures aGe naturally out Of the ques-
ton. Ii would be rs impossible 10 dis
cover whether every volume lent would
be used By persons free from diseases rs
to prophcsy where such diseases We're
about TO break out. The measures taken
must be corrective, and tie question
resolved itself into an inquiry rs TO
whother;i satisfactory disiufectant could
be found.
Tor sc4lc time DR.. .1c!.n s. Billings,
director OF the library, h.:s been o2
Ie.ineutin@ in order 10 discover = per
feet disinfect&nt Last year ELr. Hor
ton, under Dr.. Billings direction, con-
Quoted Il series Of experiments in The
latter 5 laboratory in Philadelphia. y
number CT cid patent Office renorts wcrc
incculated with I choice assortment of
bacteria, and III 4 short time the books
were full Of germs of measles, scarlet
fever, smallpox and other diseases.
Trials were then made of various
germ destroying substances, and us 4
result of the experiments DR.. Billings
says that he has Il perfect disinfcctant
in the gas foimaldehyde. Theyolulno is
placed in = glass o. metal hex with Il san
cerfrl OF :, solution of 1crmulin in va
ter. and f for III hour or two. II TIE
end Of that time the vapor has leGe-
trated into every particle OF the book
and net Il live germ can he found.
The process Will be used i'll the eircu-
la;ing department. Of the New York
public Library. and the patrons OF the in
stitution may ease their minds OF any
fear that the volumes they borrow may
bring the dreaded germs Of diphtberia
or typhoid fever into their houses
Biblioghiles, too. viii be glad TO
know that the foImalin Will destroy the
croton bug, responsible for the ruin OF
so many inc bindings in this country.
The traditional -iookworm is now Il
rarity i'll America, but the cro;on bns
has taken lis place. and the collector ii
lie Gascos or Grolicrs has i'll Dr.. ELL
inss' discovery preventive Of the rav-
ages tliat the insect 5 passion for NOR
rocco and calfskin causes. New York
Trihune.