332 



PHARMACEUTICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



volatile or gaseous substances which are said to act as antiseptics to the 

 respiratory tract when inhaled, as oil of thyme, eucalyptol, oil of eucalyp- 

 tus, menthol, camphor, euthymol, campho-phenique, mint oil, etc., but 

 their value in this regard is nil. They may have some stimulating 

 effect upon the tissues of the respiratory tract but they do not destroy any 

 germs which may be present upon or within the cells of the respiratory 

 passages. 



The following table taken from the work by Ellis gives the minimum 

 proportion of germicidal activity of well-known disinfectants. The 

 figures indicate the strength of solution necessary to prevent bacterial 

 development when added to substances capable of giving rise to bacterial 

 growth. The figures are not absolute for reasons which have been fully 

 set forth in the beginning of this chapter. The table is merely a guide to 

 the relative activity of the germicides named. 



1. Very active antiseptics. 



Mercuric iodide, 

 Silver iodide, 

 Mercuric chloride, 

 Silver nitrate, 



2. Active antiseptics. 



Osmic acid, 



Chromic acid, 



Chlorine, 



Iodine, 



Chloride of gold, 



Bichloride of platinum, 



Hydrocyanic acid, 



Bromine, 



Copper chloride, 



Thymol, 



Copper sulphate, 



Salicylic acid, 



3. Fair antiseptics. 



Potassium bichromate, 



Potassium cyanide, 



Ammonia, 



Zinc chloride, 



Mineral acids, 



Lead chloride, 



Nitrate of cobalt, 



Carbolic acid, 



Potassium permanganate, 



Lead nitrate, 



Alum, 



Tannin, 



1-40000 

 1-33000 

 1-14300 

 1-12500 



1-6666 



1-5000 



4000 



-4000 



-4000 



-3333 

 -2500 

 -1666 

 -1428 



-1340 

 -mi 



-IOOO 



1-909 

 1-909 

 -714 

 -526 

 -500 

 -500 

 -500 



-333 

 -285 

 -277 



-222 

 -207 



