DISE'ASE GERMS IN AIR. 



299 



Of the substances employed for the destruction of 

 disease germs, only some are adapted for use in. the 

 sick chamber. The smell of chloride of lime is very 

 disagreeable to some patients, and the sulphurous 

 acid, although doubtless most efficient, would be 

 injurious and -quite intolerable if the patient's air tubes 

 were at all irritable. Iodine vapour is efficient as an 

 antiseptic, but it is doubtful if this is as destructive of 

 disease germs as sulphurous acid or carbolic acid. 

 Chloride of zinc, permanganates, and chloralum do 

 not diffuse through the air. A dilute solution of one 

 of these substances may, however, be made in a pail, 

 and a .large sheet well wetted, and then carefully 

 drained. The wet sheet should be hung across the 

 doorway in such a manner that any air passing from 

 the room may traverse the surface before it escapes. 

 Carbolic acid properly diluted may be used in the 

 same manner. Disinfectants placed in saucers in 

 different parts of the sick room are of much less use. 

 But many substances whose antiseptic properties are 

 doubtful, are highly efficient for removing putrescent 

 odours. Charcoal has this property in a very remark- 

 able degree, but neither this substance nor earth 

 will destroy living disease germs. I believe the 

 most efficient plan, both for removing offensive smells 

 and for destroying living disease germs, is to cause 

 the vapour of carbolic acid to be thoroughly mixed 

 with the air of the sick room. Some strongly 

 object to the peculiar odour, but the majority of 



