BACTERIA 255 



boracic acid on the outside and cover with clean linen 

 or cotton cloth or adhesive plaster, the bacteria cannot 

 get into it, and the cut will get well quickly without 

 festering. If we do not take care to keep the bacteria 

 out, we are very apt to have festering sores, blood 

 poisoning, or even lockjaw. 



Powdered boracic acid is a very good germicide to 

 have in the house, because it can be used even in the 

 eyes or mouth without danger. The best way is to fill 

 a large bottle with water and put into it enough pow- 

 dered boracic acid, so that there will always be some of 

 it undissolved at the bottom. As we use up the solu- 

 tion, we add more water until the acid is all dissolved. 

 We must then add more acid. It can be used for 

 wounds or for gargling in case of sore throat, or mixed 

 with an equal bulk of water for use as an eyewash. 

 The mouth should be washed out with it every day, 

 and if any one with a cold in the head is about, snuff up 

 the dry powder in your nose to avoid catching the cold. 



Hydrogen peroxide is much used, but it loses its 

 strength in a short time after the bottle has once been 

 opened. Listerine is too weak a germicide to be very 

 useful. 



Formalinjuid carbolic acid are very good for killing 

 the bacteria (disinfecting) in sinks or water closets. 

 Chloride of lime is used in the same way and helps to 

 do away with bad smells, but is not so strong a germi- 

 cide as formalin. Muriatic acid is also good for the 



