D/sinfcction. 169 



Corrosive sublimate. This compound, frequently 

 called bichloride of mercury, is the strongest disinfectant 

 known. Its great disadvantage as a stable disinfectant 

 is its poisonous properties, which preclude its use on 

 mangers. It is used in a one to one thousand solution, one 

 ounce in eight gallons of water. It kills all forms of bac- 

 teria in a moment and the spores in a short time when no 

 substance is present that will combine with it and thus 

 destroy its action on the bacteria. In the presence of 

 dirt and manure its effect is greatly reduced. 



Ferrous sulphate and copper sulphate. These sub- 

 stances known as green and blue vitriol, respectively, 

 were formerly considered to be good disinfectants. It is 

 now known that they are almost worthless in this re- 

 spect. They are rather to be classed as deodorants, and 

 can often be used for this purpose to good advantage. A 

 substance that will counteract the odors produced by 

 bacteria does not necessarily destroy the bacteria them- 

 selves. 



Formaldehyde. This disinfectant is sold as a solu- 

 tion of the gas, formalin, in water. It can be applied 

 as a 5 per cent solution, but since the gas at once passes 

 off, it has but little value as a stable disinfectant. Small 

 objects, other than those of leather, to be disinfected can 

 be placed in a solution of formaldehyde. 



The process of stable disinfection. Whenever a sta- 

 ble is to be disinfected, the first process should be to give 

 it a thorough cleaning. It should be remembered that 

 no disinfectant can kill a disease-producing organism 

 with which it does not actually come in contact. If the 

 organism is protected by dust, dirt, and dried manure, 

 its destruction is difficult. The most of the disease-pro- 



