GERMICIDES. 193 
extent sufficient to exclude rapid-growing surface organisms from participation in the 
subsequent poured-plate cultures, so that pure growths can be obtained without difficulty 
from deeper portions of the plants. 
So far as known to the writer no serious attempts have been made to try the newer 
germicides on plant parasites. A very few of these may be mentioned. Atoxyl, known 
chemically as arsenic-acid anilide, or arsanilic acid, has been used during the last few years 
for injection into the spinal cord in cases of sleeping sickness with a view to destroying the 
trypanosomes. Statements respecting its value are conflicting with the preponderence of 
the evidence in favor of the use of the germicide. It is undoubtedly only a makeshift till 
something better is found. Atoxyl is much less poisonous to the higher animals than white 
arsenic, but very deadly to some of the lower forms. Some of the more recently introduced 
related substances such as atoxyl acetyl or arsacetine, and especially arsenophenylglycin, 
or arsenophenylglycollate of sodium, are still more efficient against trypanosomes and at 
the same time less poisonous to the higher animals (mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, 
horses). This latter salt, which, according to Ehrlich, is a little less toxic than atoxyl (but 
two to four times less toxic according to Roehl) is said to have a very high therapeutic 
value. A single dose is said to have cured an animal suffering from an experimental 
tripanasomiasis. 
The most-talked-about substance at present is the dioxydiamidoarsenobenzol from 
Ehrlich’s laboratory, commonly called No. 606 and also salvarsan. A single dose of this 
substance if properly administered is said to be sufficient to destroy every vestige of Tre- 
ponema pallida in the body of aman. But here again conflicting statements are rife (1911). 
Argyrol is an organic silver salt now much used by oculists and others. There are 
various other similar silver compounds possessing some of the germicidal properties of 
nitrate of silver without its caustic properties, e. g., protargol, argonin, albargin, largin, 
saphol (formaldehyd, nucleinic acid and silver). Some of these organic silver compounds 
are strongly germicidal without being very injurious to the animal body, e. g., argonin, 
argyrol, albargin. 
Persistent claims have been made by the manufacturers for the high disinfectant power 
of cyllin, and some of these claims appear to be borne out by scientific tests. Cyllin appears 
to be some sort of a phenol or mixture of phenols. It is said to be much less poisonous than 
carbolic acid, and twenty times as efficient, 7.e., nearly or quite as germicidal as mercuric 
chloride. It is advertised in reputable journals as ‘‘ non-toxic.” 
Aniodol, a French disinfectant, has been recommended recently as a substitute for 
iodoform. It is said to be highly germicidal and may be used as a powder or as a soap. It 
contains neither mercury nor copper. 
Cook’s asepso soap has been recommended by the Journal of Tropical Medicine. This 
contains 3 per cent biniodide of mercury. One gram of the soap in 60 cc. of water is said 
to be equivalent to 1:2000 of the biniodide of mercury, and the lather of the soap is supposed 
to be still more effective. Itis said to be a remedy for Favus. 
For notes on the newer germicides see back volumes of the Journal of Tropical Medicine 
and Hygiene, Bulletin de I’Institute Pasteur, and New and Non Official Remedies, 1911, 
Press Am. Med. Asso., Chicago. 
The writer made several tests of the St. Laceleau soap (see Vol. I, p. 253) using spores 
of Bacillus subtilis. It appeared to be without sensible restraining effect on this organism, 
1.e., B. subtilis grew readily in bouillon after exposure to 10 per cent solutions for 30 minutes, 
and that, too, without a preliminary washing of the spores. Even when the soap was added 
to agar in the proportions recommended by Konradi it did not prevent the growth of 
bacteria. The particular cake tested had been out of the factory three years, but had been 
recently removed from the box and original tinfoil wrappings and was unchanged in appear- 
ance. 
