St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-03-11

Ihe question most vital 10 tne
householder is: "How to clean my
house most effectively as regards
contagious disease and foul odors."
Since it has become known that
most diseases are produced by
germs, it behooves us to destroy
the cause; and to effect this we
should know something about the
germs themselves, their mode Of
living and under what conditions
they thrive best.
Germs are of many varieties.
They have different shapes, live
differently and thrive under different
conditions.
Fortunately for us, there is only
a small proportion Of the known
germs that produce disease, and
these are more easily destroyed than
those that are harmless.
Germs that produce disease are
called psthogenic and those that
do not are non-pathogenic. Many
of the non-pathogenic germs are
useful, in fact, quite necessary, as
those that produce Our buttermilk
and vinegar. Some are very annoy
ing but not harmful as those that
make butter, lard and other fats
rancid.
Molds and yeasts are germs that
belong to class known as the
fungi. The others are called bac-
terra and are divided into several
classes according to their shape and
mode Of living. Examples; Bacilli
are rod shaped, micrococci are mere
dots and may go in pairs, fours or
in chains.
There are three things necessary
for the life and propagation Of germs;
Heat, light and moisture. Germs
will find these where the unaided
eye could find nothing.
Sterilization means the dcstruc-
ton of all life, and a body Is steril-
lied when all germs including the
spores are killed.
The term disinfectant is com
monty applied to the process of
destroying germs in rags, furniture,
clothing, houses, etc. Bodies Ell.
tirely free from germs are termed
aseptic.
Distinction and sterilization are
accomplished by means Of sunlight
or chemicals. Sunlight Is natures
disinfcctant and Is more powerful
than chemicals. but II takes the sun
longer to accomplish the work.
Several hours have to be taken In
the sun to thoroughly disinfect
body.
True disinfection Is a matter re-
quiring some skill and the Use OF
the chemicals In liberal quantities.
The chemicals should come In di-
rect contact with the object to be
disinfected. The common idea OF
a disinfectant Is often only a deod-
orizer. Yet a dcodorizer Is often a
good iisinfectant. The most ef-
fective deodorizers are lime. chloride
OF flime. copper sulphate (blue stone)
aud formaldehyde. These are true
disinfectants as well as deodorizers
for they destroy the germs. Lime
Is particularly valuable as a white
wash for outhouses. barns, chicken
houses. trees, cellars aud musty
places. Bear in mind that to be |
effective the chemical must come in
contact with the object TO he disin-
fected. Rormaldehyde and sulphur
gases made fresh are the only true
gaseous disinfectants, and il these
are used properly all germ life will
be destroyed.
When true disinfectant is
wanted formaldehyde will answer
more purposes than any. II is
effectual. clean. and leaves no trace
behind. II does not injure clothing
aud will not remove colors. IL can
be applied to anything except
leather which II makes brittle,
hence II cannot be used on iurs.
carpets. furniture, toilet articles,
fruits, roots, etc. but can be disin.
fected with a five per cent solution
injury.
Other chemicals are chloride of
lime. carbolic acid and the cresols,
(creolin and lysoD, These are
cheaper than formaldehyde and can
be used freely. Chloride of lime is
best applied in solution. about six
ounces to gallon OF water, Car
bolic acid should be in FIVE per
rent solution. creolin and lysol
should be in two per cent solution,
For effectiveness, the manner OF
applying the chemicals is quite as
important as the substances them
'elves. G. G. currin, PHI. G..