424 CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY. 



only with their aid and through their trained attendants can 

 thorough disinfection of dwellings be carried out. All 

 portable articles that will withstand the action of moist 

 steam are wrapped in cloths moistened with three per cent, 

 carbolic acid or mercuric chlorid, I r 1000, and sent to the 

 disinfecting station, where they are placed in a steam-appa- 

 ratus. The walls and ceilings are thoroughly rubbed down 

 with bread-crumbs, and these are eventually burned in the 

 stove. Walls painted with oil-colors are washed with five 

 per cent, carbolic acid or painted with milk of lime. White- 

 washed walls are given a new coat. The furniture is 

 rubbed off with three per cent, carbolic acid and then rubbed 

 dry. Polished articles can be rubbed off with bread. Up- 

 holstered furniture, when possible, is sterilized in the steam- 

 apparatus ; otherwise rubbed down with carbolic acid and 

 brushed. Articles of leather, metal, glass, and the like can 

 be vigorously rubbed with carbolic acid. Mantels, the 

 upper surfaces of stoves, etc., are first freed of dust by means 

 of moist cloths, then soaped and rubbed with three per cent, 

 carbolic acid. Finally, the floor is disinfected by scouring 

 with warm water and soap and then with carbolic acid. Of 

 late formaldehyd, which has already been mentioned as a 

 disinfectant for clothing, has also been employed for the dis- 

 infection of dwellings. The following mode of procedure 

 is pursued : A forty per cent, aqueous solution of formal- 

 dehyd (also known as formalin or formol) is mixed with 

 chlorinated lime and water to each liter of formalin 200 

 grams of chlorinated lime in 400 cu. cm. of water ; the 

 mixture is designated formochloral and the mixture is 

 evaporated in a Trillat autoclave, with four atmospheres of 

 pressure. One liter of formochloral is sufficient for 200 

 cubic meters of air-space. The disinfection is, however, 

 essentially only superficial, the bacteria in thick articles, 

 such as beds, mattresses, clothing, etc., not being destroyed 

 thereby. After disinfection has been completed the vapor 

 of formaldehyd is removed by means of a spray of ammonia 

 and exposure to air. Greater advantages than the Trillat 

 apparatus, whose manipulation is always difficult, are pos- 

 sessed by the formalin-lamp placed upon the market by 

 Schering,* with the aid of which the disinfecting vapor is 

 generated in a most simple manner by the burning of 



* Numerous forms of serviceable apparatus can now be obtained. 



