APPENDIX B. 



Antiseptics and Disinfectants. The following is chiefly from 

 Sternberg's Manual of Bacteriology, and embodies part of the report 

 of " The Committee on Disinfectants of the American Public Health 

 Association." 



An Antiseptic is a substance having the power to prevent or destroy 

 putrefaction, or, what is the same thing, the bacteria upon which putre- 

 faction depends. 



Disinfection is the destroying of disease germs by means of heat, 

 chemic substances, fumigation, or by fresh air or sunlight. 



" The injurious consequences which are likely to result from such 

 misapprehension and misuse of the word ' disinfectant ' will be appre- 

 ciated when it is known that recent researches have demonstrated that 

 many of the agents which have been found useful as deodorizers or as 

 antiseptics are entirely without value for the destruction of disease 

 germs. 



" This is true, for example, as regards the sulphate of iron, or cop- 

 peras, a salt which has been extensively used with the idea that it is a 

 valuable disinfectant. As a matter of fact, sulphate of iron in saturated 

 solution does not destroy the vitality of disease germs, or the infecting 

 power of material containing them. This salt is, nevertheless, a very 

 valuable antiseptic, and its low price makes it one of the most valuable 

 agents for the arrest of putrefactive decomposition." 



EXTRACTS FROM THE ABOVE-MENTIONED REPORT. 

 "The most useful agents for the destruction of spore-containing 

 infectious material are: 



1. Fire ; complete destruction by burning. 



2. Steam under pressure, 105 degrees C. (221 degrees F.). for ten 

 minutes. 



3. Boiling in water for half an hour. 



4. Chlorid of lime ; a four per cent solution. 



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