The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-07-16
KILLING GERMS IN BOOKS.


DIR. Billings Discovery of an Effective
Disinfectant.
Charles Lamb, in one of the quaintest
and most charming of his essays, de-
clares that he prefers some books when
they are soiled and dog cared; that
copy of Fielding or Richardson pleases
him better when it bears evidences of
having been read and reread-maybe
by some lonely seamstress in her garrett
than in all the immaculate whiteness
and cleanliness of a new edition.
The sentiment is pretty one, ana
other writers, notably the present poet
laureate, have confessed to sharing it
with Ella. But it must be 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 our ancestors. Science
takes the we'll thumbed volume, forgets
all the pathos in it and finds instead
germs. And most people would confess
that sentiment comes 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 a
splendid library, there will be a free
lending department, as well as the read
ing rooms and reference library. Every
inhabitant of New York of good charac-
ter will be able to borrow books free of
charge, and the Public library authori-
ties have been for some time considering
how the dangers inevitably resulting
from circulating volumes in every part
of the city may be avoided. Preventive
measures are naturally out of the ques-
ton. 1t would be as impossible to dis
cover whether every volume lent would
be used by persons free from diseases as
to prophesy where such diseases were
about to break out. The measures taken
must be corrective, and the question
resolved itself into an inquiry as to
whether a satisfactory disinfectant could
be found.
For some time DR.. John S. Billings,
director of the library, has been ex-
perimenting in order to discover a per-
feet disinfectant. Last year Mr.. Hor-
ton, under DR.. Billings direction, con-
Quoted series of experiments in the
latte1's laboratory in Philadelphia, A
number of old patent office reports were
inoculated with choice assortment of
bacteria, and in 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 as a
result of the experiments DR.. Billings
says thathe has a perfect disinfectant
in the gas formaldehyde, The volume is
placed i'll a glass or metal box with sau-
cerful of a solution of formalin in wa
ter, and left for all hour or two. At the
end Of that time the yapor has pene-
trated into every particle Of the book
and not live germ can be found.
The process will be used in the circu-
lating 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 diphtheria
or typhoid fever into their houses.
Bibliophiles, too, will be glad to
know that the formalin will destroy the
croton bug, responsible for the ruin of
SO many fine bindings in this country.
The traditional bookworm is now
rarity in America, but the croton bug
has taken its place, and the collector of
LIE Gascos or Groliers has in DR.. Bill
ings' discovery preventive of the raw
ages that the insects passion for NOR
rocco and calfskin causes. New York /
Tribune.