RELATIVE ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS ANTISEPTICS 43 



DISINFECTANTS or germicides destroy the specific poisons 

 of communicable diseases. Their special function is to 

 kill, or arrest the development of, those germs or bacteria 

 which produce disease. 



DEODORISERS or deodorants destroy smells. Some of the 

 most disagreeable smells, and those most injurious to the 

 higher animals, result from putrefaction, hence their cause 

 is removed by effectual antiseptics. Smells consisting 

 mainly of sulphuretted hydrogen are neutralised by 

 chlorine ; those from ammoniacal gases by hydrochloric 

 and nitric acids. Offensive odours may also be attracted 

 and absorbed by freshly-burnt charcoal or dried earth. 



Enzymes or separable ferments generally have their action 

 arrested or are destroyed more readily than the organised 

 ferments, amongst which there is much difference in via- 

 bility. Microzymes may be as sensitive, but usually are not 

 so sensitive, to the action of antiseptics as bacilli. The 

 bacillus anthracis is more easily killed than some others. 

 The spores of all species are specially resistant, and for their 

 effectual destruction require prolonged exposure to tolerably 

 strong solutions of potent antiseptics. 



The action of watery solutions of various drugs on 

 several enzymes has been carefully examined by Wernitz, 

 and his experiments are corroborated and quoted by Sir 

 Lauder Brunton. Corrosive sublimate stands pre-eminent 

 in the certainty of its effects, even in very diluted solution. 

 The action of emulsin was arrested by 1- 65,000th part, of 

 diastase by l-50,000th part, of ptyalin by l-52,000th part, of 

 pancreatin by 1-2 1,600th part ; but it took 1-1 766th part to 

 arrest the action of pepsin, and 1-7 20th part to arrest that 

 of rennet. Minute quantities of copper sulphate, chlorine, 

 iodine, and bromine, and also bleaching powder and sul- 

 phurous acid, readily destroy these organic ferments. 

 Salicylic and benzoic acids and chlorinated lime are also 

 effectual, usually in proportions of about 1-1 000th part. 

 Borax is effective generally with 1 to 100, although l-3580th 

 part arrests the action of the intestinal ferment invertin. 

 Aluminium acetate, carbolic acid, and glycerin in the order 

 mentioned are weaker still. Chloroform, thymol, euca- 

 lyptol, and mustard oil have little, if any, action, even in 



