422 CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY. 



they are not too abundant and are at the same time viscid, 

 they can be simply burned in a stove. Otherwise they are 

 introduced, together with the sputum-cup, into a spe- 

 cially constructed disinfector, resembling the steam-chest 

 (Kirchner), in which they are exposed for half an hour to 

 the action of steam at a temperature of 100 C. (212 F.). 

 The apparatus has the disadvantage that a number of the 

 cups will be broken, and in families it can not often be pro- 

 vided. Under such circumstances the sputa can be poured 

 into a pot and boiled for half an hour in water. Usually, 

 however, one will have to be satisfied with simply emptying 

 them into the water-closets, where the pathogenic germs 

 are simultaneously destroyed, in part with the disinfection 

 of the feces and in part by the process of putrefaction. The 

 sputum-cups should be sterilized by means of hot water and 

 carbolic acid, and preferably likewise boiled. 



DISINFECTION OF BODY-CLOTHING AND BED-LINEN. 



Uncontaminated linen is boiled for half an hour in petro- 

 leum soap-water (two bucketfuls of water about thirty 

 liters to 250 grams of soft soap and two spoonfuls of petro- 

 leum ; then, after removal of the soap-water, rinsed in cold 

 water ; next washed with soap in clean hot water ; then 

 again rinsed in cold water, permitted to remain over night 

 in clean water, and finally dried in the open air. Instead 

 of this procedure the linen may also be disinfected in the 

 steam disinfecting apparatus. 



Contaminated linen requires removal of feces, mucus, or 

 pus before application of heat, as otherwise burned spots 

 will appear. Such linen must immediately after removal be 

 placed in a sheet moistened with mercuric chlorid, I : 2000, 

 then in strong, moist sacks, and sent away for disinfection. 

 The sacks, unopened, are introduced into the disinfecting 

 fluid, three per cent, soft-soap solution, in which the linen is 

 treated for three hours at a temperature of 50 C. (122 R), 

 and then remains for an additional forty-eight hours during 

 the process of cooling ; or mercuric-chlorid salt solution 

 (of 0.5 to one thousand mercuric chlorid and 6 to one 

 thousand sodium chlorid). After disinfection in this way 

 the linen is further treated in the same manner as uncon- 

 taminated linen. 



