SULPHUR US A CID GAS. 263 



devote Jier life to the service of the sick, without 

 once being attacked. But this is no reason for relax- 

 ing in the slightest degree our efforts to extinguish 

 contagious poisons, and the greatest precautions 

 should, in all cases, be taken to destroy all contagious 

 disease germs as soon as possible after they have 

 come into existence. For this purpose some easily 

 obtainable volatile vapour must be employed. 



Chlorine and sulphurous acid are very efficient, but 

 neither the patient nor the attendants can long sup- 

 port an atmosphere containing a high percentage of 

 either of these deleterious gases ; and even when 

 mere traces are present the atmosphere is extremely 

 unpleasant. Moreover, as they are positively inju- 

 rious to the respiratory organs, both of the healthy 

 and sick, their employment in the sick room requires 

 the greatest care. The vapour which is given off 

 from chloride of lime or chlorinated lime, although 

 perfectly harmless is excessively' disagreeable, and 

 the associations inseparable from this odour are so 

 unpleasant that some substitute for it is unquestion- 

 ably most desirable. 



Sulphuro tis acid gas is a most powerful disinfectant, 

 and acts beneficially in checking the spread of con- 

 tagious diseases by destroying the living germs. 

 It has been proved, experimentally, that a very weak 

 solution stops the growth and multiplication of the 

 yeast fungus and penicillium glaucum, and destroys 

 the lower forms of life. 



T 2 



