APPENDIX A. 



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." 



Antiseptic Defined. An antiseptic is a substance having the power to 

 prevent or destroy putrefaction, or, what is the same -thing, the bacteria upon 

 which putrefaction depends. 



Disinfectant Defined. A disinfectant is a substance that can destroy 

 disease germs. 



Disinfection Defined. Disinfection is the destroying of disease germs by 

 means of heat, chemic substances, fumigation, or by fresh air. 



"The injurious consequences which are likely to result from such misap- 

 prehension and misuse of the word ' disinfectant ' will be appreciated 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." 



An Antiseptic, but not a Disinfectant. " This is true, for example, as 

 regards the sulphate of iron, or copperas, 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. 



Some Methods of Disinfecting. "The most useful agents for the 

 destruction of spore-containing infectious material are : 



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