156 



Sterilization and Disinfection 



Pyoktanin (methyl violet) ... 1 

 Formalin (40 per cent, solu- 



2,000,0001 : 5000. 



In a more recent study of disinfectants, Burgess * gives 

 the following comparisons: 



Biniodid of mercury 1 : 5000. 



Bichlorid of mercury 



Chlorinated lime 



Formaldehyd 



Lysol 



Carbolic acid. . 



2000. 

 : 100. 

 : 40. 

 : 20. 

 : 20. 



As biniodid of mercury forms no combination with 

 albumin, Burgess regards it as the best general disinfec- 

 tant. 



The value of antiseptics, like that of disinfectants, is 

 always relative, the destructive as well as the inhibitory 

 power of the solution varying with the micro-organism 

 upon which it acts. The following table, from Boer, will 

 illustrate this : 



METHYL VIOLET (PYOKTANIN). 



RESTRAINS. KILLS. 



Anthrax bacillus 1 : 70 ; 000 1 : 5000 



Diphtheria 1 : 10,000 1 : 2000 



Glanders 1 : 2500 1:150 



Typhoid 1 : 2500 1 : 150 



Cholera spirillum 1 : 30,000 1 : 1000 



* " Lancet," June 23, 1900. 



