35 



burying, as certain organisms find in soil favorable conditions for 

 their preservation and multiplication. 



Fire may be used to disinfect iron, stone, or brick work or other 

 materials of a non-inflammable nature by passing a flame over it. 

 An ordinary gas or Bunsen burner attached to the gas fixture by 

 means of a flexible rubber tube affords a convenient means of 

 securing a flame for disinfecting purposes. 



Dry heat is applicable to the disinfection of certain objects that 

 cannot be subjected to the action of the flame or to moist heat. 

 Brushes, curry combs, blankets and similar objects that may have 

 been in contact with animals suffering from contagious disease are 

 sterilized by baking. Special apparatus for this purpose has been 

 invented and manufactured for use in quarantine stations, hospitals, 

 etc. For all practical purposes on the farm an ordinary stove oven 

 is all that is required. The article to be disinfected should be put 

 into the oven in as loose a condition as possible, in order that the 

 heat may penetrate to every part. Twenty minutes' exposure at a 

 temperature of 300° F. is sufficient to destroy any harmful organism 

 that may be present. If no thermometer is at hand by which the 

 temperature may be taken, a small quantity of oi'dinary cotton bat- 

 ting may be used. Lay it out loosely on the article to be disin- 

 fected ; when the temperature has risen sufficiently high to give a 

 slightly brownish color to the cotton, one may be assured that dis- 

 infection is completed. 



Moist heat in the form of boiling water or steam may be used as 

 a disinfectant for those parts of a stable or those objects about it 

 that cannot, owing to their nature, be treated by fire or dry heat. 



Washing thoroughly with boiling water is very effective as a 

 means of disinfection. Warm water in which the hands can be 

 borne cannot be relied upon. To do the work, it must be quite 

 near the boiling point, and requires to be applied with a mop or 

 a broom. Live steam applied directly from a steam-pipe or hose 

 is much more active than boiling water. It acts very energetically 

 and quickly. To steam walls, floors, mangers, etc., is a sure and 

 satisfactory way of disinfecting them. Pails, blankets, tools, etc., 

 may be either boiled or steamed by immersing them in water or 

 by placing them over boiling water in a tightly covered kettle. 

 An exposure from twenty to thirty minutes is sufficient time to 

 disinfect, provided the object is of such size or texture that the 

 steam or water can readily come in contact with every portion 

 during the greater part of the time. 



There are numerous chemical substances that destroy infectious 

 matter. In certain cases it may be advisable, on account of 



