FORMALDEHYDE. 



59 



tremely penetrating, and is very irritating to the mucous 

 membranes. This limits its use to the disinfection of inani- 

 mate objects. A 15 per cent, solution at 150 C. kills anthrax 

 spores in one and a half hours. Used as a liquid, it does not 

 possess any advantages over carbolic acid and similar prepara- 

 tions. When vaporized, it is vastly superior to all other 

 agents. Robinson found that it will penetrate a mattress 



FIG. 18. 



Formaldehyde apparatus. 



and kill test-tube cultures placed within it. The gas is gen- 

 erated rapidly and continuously by any of the different styles 

 of formalin generators on the market (Fig. 18). Formalin 

 pastilles can now be procured which contain the product in 

 such quantity as to permit of its inhalation. It is also used 

 in the form of a spray ; or sheets saturated with formalde- 

 hyde solution are hung up in the tightly closed room for 



