258 THE CONTAGIOUS TYPHUS 



MEMORANDUM on tlie Principles and Practice of Disin- 

 fection, as applicable to the present Epidemic of 

 Cattle Disease. By J. L. W. THUDICHUM, M.D. 



I.-Principles L PRINCIPLES OF DISINFECTION. 



of disinfection. 



1. Definition of 1. The term disinfection signifies the removal and 



destruction, or destruction and subsequent removal of 

 the products of destruction, of all matters actually 

 being or containing products of disease capable of 

 reproducing disease in other animals. 



2. May include 2. If the same processes and means, as used for this 



special purifica- . . i n i t -i 



tion and deodori- purpose, are applied to the purification and deodoriza- 

 tion of places and things not actually infected, but 

 capable or suspected of being infected, then these 

 preventive measures are practically and properly in- 

 cluded under the definition of disinfection. 



3. Reproducers 3. The reproducers of the infectious matter or con- 

 ri"rs^? infection! tagion are all kinds of cattle of the ox tribe, which 



also are at present in this country the only animals 

 liable to its specific effects. It is probable that the 

 contagion adheres with particular pertinacity to all 

 secretions and discharges from sick animals. For this 

 reason, faeces or droppings, urine, ruminated food, all 

 secretions from the mouth, nose, and eyes, and any 

 sore parts of the surface of the diseased animals must 

 be considered as the principal and primary carriers of 

 infectious parts the infectious matter or plague poison. It is also 



of dead animals. 



probable that many parts of animals which have died 

 from the cattle plague, or have been killed during 

 advanced stages of the disease, are infectious, some 

 because they are primarily imbued with the contagion, 

 others because they have been in contact with it after 

 the death of the animal. Skins, hides, hair, horns, 



