River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-07-27
SIMPLE HOMEMADE
FARM DISINFECTANTS
BY DR.. M. p. RAVENEL,
Wisconsin College of Agriculture.

When an animal dies of a contagious
disease it is very important to de-
stroy the carcass by burning. If this
cannot be done it should be buried
deep and covered with quicklime. An
thrax is frequently spread by neglect
Of these precautions. Birds, dogs,
and other animals, feed on the unbur-
led carcass and distribute the germs.
Birds, especially, may carry the germs
many miles.
It is a vital necessity to control as
far as possible the transmission of
disease. One of the precautionary
measures employed is disinfection or
the absolute destruction of the germs
Of infectious diseases. IF this is done
by means of chemical substances these
are called disinfectants or germi-
cides.
Lime is one Of the cheapest and
most useful disinfectants that we have.
It has the power of destroying organic
matter as we'll as bacteria, and is
therefore very useful in the disposal
Of the bodies of animals which have
died Of contagious diseases. For dis
infection it is best used as milk of
lime. Slack quicklime by adding a
pint and a half water to each quart
lime; or by weight, 60 parts water to
100 parts lime. The result is, hy-
drate Of lime, a dry powder. One
quart of this is mixed with four
quarts of water.
This must be freshly prepared to
have any germicidal power. 1t may be
kert two or three days If tightly cork
ed. Air slaked lime has no value as
a germicide, and water slaked lime
soon loses it's power if exposed to the
air. This is due to the fact that it
becomes charged into carbonate of
lime, which has no germicidal power.
Milk of lime is very useful also in
outhouses and barns to disinfect the
walls, partitions, floors, etc. It's cheap
ness enables abundant use. 1t is best
applied by means of a spray pump,
which forces it into avery crack and
cor:ier.
Whitewash is the same as milk of
lime and when made from freshly
slaked lime is equally good if the same
proportions are used in mixing. Quick
lime has long been used for the disin-
lection of dead animals. For this pur-
pose the body should be surrounded
with twice it's weight of unslaked lime.
Animals should be buried deep and be
entirely surrounded with an abundance
of unslaked lime.
The burning of sulphur is one of the
oldest methods of disinfection known,
but has been almost entirely dis
placed By newer and more reliable
methods It kills only on the surface
and does not destroy spores. 1t is
very destructive to animal life, killing
insects and vermin, and is especially
useful in destroying contagion spread
by such agencies. In order to act at
all. sulphur requires the presence of
moisture. The method has the advan-
tage Of cheapness, ease of application,
and probability. Sulphur can be
bought in one form or another, every
where. 1t has the great disadvantage
Of being very destructive. 1t bleaches
many dyes, corrodes metals and weak
ems almost all fabrics.
Sulphate of iron, commonly known
as copperas, green vitriol, or iron Wit
rioI, has for many years been widely
used as a disinfectant. The accurate
tests which are now made have shown
that it has practically no value as a
gcrimcide. 1t is a fairly good deodor-
izer. but must not be depended upon
as disinfeGtant.