The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1899-07-20
SULPHUR SALTS THEM.
But the Microbes Apparently Thrive
on Formalin.

President Cooper presided at the
yesterdays meeting OF the Board Of
Health, and DR.. Alvarez presented
the following interesting report in
connection with the recent expert
ments with bscilli OF bubonic plague
and other noxious diseases:
Mr.. Fl. e. Cooper, President of the
Board of Health.
Dear Sir: l have the honor to sub
init the report of the experiments made
to determine the efficacy of formalin
and also of sulphur as disinfectants of
merchandise
On the 18th instant, under the direc-
ton of DR.. F. r. Day, the port physi-
clan, and Mr.. G. B. Reynolds, the exec
utive officer of the Board of Health, 1
prepared six agar-agar Petri dishes
and inoculated them as follows: Two
with bacilli of bubonic plague, one
with the bacilli of typhoid fever, one
with the bacilli of diphtheria, one with
the bacilli of pseudo-diphtheria, and
one with the bacillus prodigiosus.
l prepared also twelve agar-agar test
tubes and inoculated them with the
pathogenic germs above mentioned
and also with the bacillus of pneumo-
mia.
The Petri dishes and the test tubes.
containing the germs of the diseases
mentioned, were placed all over the
room used for fumigating freight at
the Pacific Mail wharf. Wire netting
was used to cover them as protection
against rats and mice.
The doors were closed and the for
malin lamp discharged its vapor
through a small hole in the door for
nine hours and half.
On the following day the doors were
opened and the Petri dishes and test
tubes gathered. 1t could be seen at a
glance that all the disease germs were
growing and showed vigorous colonies.
The bacillus prodigiosus grew with
such rapidity that the greater part of
the Petri dish was covered with bright
red colonies.
Two days later numerous moulds
and ordinary germs found in the air
have grown in the dishes and test
tubes.
From the foregoing facts I~draw the
following conclusions:
Formalin, as used in this experi-
ment is worthless as disinfectant.
1t is not capable of destroying the
germs of any disease nor of arresting
their development 1t did not show
any deleterious influence over the ordi-
nary germs that float in the air.
Owing to the higher temperature of
the disinfecting room at the Pacific
Mail wharf, the germs, while exposed
to the formaline vapor, grew faster
and more luxuriant than they grow in
the laboratory.
However 1t would be erroneous to
conclude that formalin is worthless
as disinfecting agent, because it
proved to be of no value in this expert
ment. It's reputation as a reliable dis
infectant is we'll established and our
experience with 1t merely shows that
the room at the Pacific Mail wharf is
not adapted to its use.
Formalin to be efficient must be
used in a room that is not too large
for the size of the lamp, and, above all,
the room must be air-tight.
On the following day-the 16th-the
experiment was repeated, placing new
cultures of all the germs used the pre-
vious day about the room at the Pa
cific Mail wharf, using the same pre-
cautions against rats and mice.
Sulphur was used instead of forma-
lin for four and half hours. On the
18th the doors were opened and the
Petri dishes and test tubes examined.
All the germs of the different dis
eases were found dead and no colonies
of moulds or other germs that float in
the air have appeared on the agar
agar.
Several bright silver coins which Mr..
Reynolds had wrapped in many folds
of cloth showed clearly the effects of
the sulphur fumigation.
We may conclude that sulphur, as
used in this experiment, is capable of
destroying the germs of the different
diseases which were exposed to its
fumes.
In closing this report l would sug-
gest that the fumigating room be di-
vided into two or more small compart-
ments and, above all, that they be
made air-tight.
Respectfully submitted,
L. F. ALVAREZ, M. D.,
Bacteriologist to the Board of Health.
Honolulu, July 10th, 1899.