DISINFECTION 335 



Professor Delepine's opinion, the vapours of phenol, izal,, 

 dry chlorine, and sulphurous acid have, under the same 

 conditions, given inferior results. 



We may now shortly summarise the foregoing facts re- 

 specting antiseptics and disinfection in the simplest terms 

 possible to afford facility to the uninitiated in practical 

 application : 



To disinfect a room, seal up cracks and crevices, and burn 

 at least one pound of roll sulphur for every 1000 cubic feet 

 of space. 1 Many authorities recommend four or five pounds 

 of sulphur to the same space. Let the room remain sealed 

 up for twenty-four hours. 



To disinfect walls, wash with chloride of lime solution 

 (i-ioo) or carbolic acid (1-40). This latter solution may be 

 used to wipe down furniture. Either or both may be used 

 after sulphur fuming. Formic aldehyde may also be used 

 by lamp or autoclave. 



To disinfect bedding, etc. , the steam sterilisation secured 

 in a Thresh, Equifex, or Lyon apparatus is the best. Rags 

 and infected clothing, unless valuable, should be burnt. 



To disinfect garments and wearing apparel, they should be 

 washed in a disinfectant solution, or fumed with formic 

 aldehyde. 



To disinfect excreta or putrefying solutions, enough disin- 

 fectant should be added to produce in the solution or matter 

 being disinfected the percentage of disinfectant necessary to 

 act as such. Adding a small quantity of antiseptic to a 

 large volume of fluid or solid is as useless as pouring a small 

 quantity of antiseptic down a sewer with the idea that such 

 treatment will disinfect the sewage. The mixture of the 

 disinfectant with the matter to be disinfected must contain 

 the standard percentage for disinfection. Chloride of lime 

 is a common substance for use in this way. Potassium 



1 The measurement of cubic space is of course made by multiplying together 

 in feet the length, breadth, and height of a room. 



