DISINFECTION BY GASES 53 



The various so-called disinfectants which are often 

 recommended to purify the air of the sick-room are, 

 at the most, simply deodorisers of greater or less 

 value, and are entirely unreliable for the destruction 

 of disease germs under the conditions existing in an 

 occupied apartment. 



Disinfection of the vacated room consists in the 

 destruction of all infectious particles which remain 

 attached to surfaces, or lodged in crevices, in inter- 

 stices of textile fabrics, etc. The object in view may 

 be accomplished by thorough washing with a reliable 

 disinfecting solution, but many sanitarians think it 

 advisable to " disinfect the room " with a gaseous 

 disinfectant, such as formaldehyd or sulphur dioxid. 

 If " fumigation " with sulphur dioxid is resorted to, the 

 directions given by the Committee on Disinfectants 

 of the American Public Health Association should 

 be followed : that is, three pounds of sulphur should 

 be burned for every thousand cubic feet of air-space. 

 At the end of from twelve to twenty-four hours, doors 

 and windows should be opened, and the room freely 

 ventilated. After this fumigation, all surfaces should 

 be washed with a disinfecting solution (chloride of 

 lime 2 per cent., carbolic acid 2 percent., or mercuric 

 chloride 1:1000), and afterwards thoroughly scrubbed 

 with soap and hot water. Plastered walls should be 

 whitewashed. 



