The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-18
How to Use Disinfectants

How to Use Disinfectants
 Practically the only purpose for which gases, vapors or smokes are employed in modern disinfection Is for the destruction of mice, rats or other vermin in room, closet, hole, building, ship or cases or bales packed for shipment or stor- age. The gases most efficient are so poisonous to man that they can be safely used only by experts in Immigration. Among them are formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide (fumes of burning sulphur), chlor- in, hydrocyanic acid, and for vermin carbon monoxid or the fumes of carbon disulphid.
 Sulphur fumes and chlorin bleach disco1or fabrics and hence are seldom desirable for use in the home, though chlorin gas is perS haps the most efficient and pene- trating disinfectant, as well as the most irritating and poisonous.
 A hose attached to the exhaust pipe of an automobile and carried into a rat or other hole will quick ly dispose of the rodents in the burrow, when the auto engine runs few minutes.
 Formaldehyde comes in stand ard solution called Liquor of Formaldehyde, which contains 37.5 per cent of the gas dissolved in water. The common trade name of this is formalin.
 Formaldehyde does not bleach or attack fabrics. It is not very poisonous. It is a deodorant. It does not injure metal surfaces, but renders leather, skins and furs brittle, so they should be disin- fected by other means. One ounce of the standard 37.5 per cent solu- ton of formaldehyde mixed with nine ounces of water makes a dis infectant solution equivalent to 10 ounces of strong bichlorid of mer- cury or superior to an equal quan- tity of per cent (one in 20) so- lution of phenol (carobolic acid) in disinfectant power.
 A small quantity of such solu- tion of formaldehyde will instant ly deodorize foul malodorous sub stances and will disinfect thorough ly if thoroughly mixed with the material. It is much used for disinfecting various secretions in illness, and for disinfecting preci- ous articles, antiques, books and things that have been used by many persons--coins, pencils, pens, tele- phone mouthpiece, door knobs and the like. Personally would not waste money or time disinfecting such things in any case, so far as my own safety is concerned. But if you have any nutty obsessions about the remote chance of infec- tion in that way, carry hipflask of 10 per cent formalin solution and clean up the environment be- fore you come in contact with it. Lots of demented creatures do. Soaking new brush in the 10 lper cent formaldehyde for "A hours | is a good way to make certain the bristles shall be free from the deadly anthrax bacilli. Of course the ,f0rmaldehyde must be thor oughly rinsed out before you use the brush.
 It is good prophylaxis against excessive or malodorous sweating of the feet and also against. ring worm foot itch to pour an ounce or two of the same 10 per cent | formaldehyde solution into each shoe, from one shoe to the other
 SO as to wet the whole insole and l lining of the toe, then drain ant let the shoe dry for 24 hours be- fore wearing. This repeated once a month. Tn more troublesome cases mop the soies and between the toes with the solution and le
 dry before putting on stockings
 do this for two or three days Il succession. Be careful to keep tn | solution off your fingers. Barber and hair dressers use formalde | hyde for disinfecting implements I Plain washing of such implement | with soaop and hot water Is g bet Ifer protection for the customer.