64 BACTERIOLOGY 



ease. It is harmless to colors, metals, clothing, etc., 

 but because of its highly irritating character it is prac- 

 tically useless for purposes where it would come in con- 

 tact with the human tissues, as in hand disinfection, 

 wound dressing, etc. It is used to sterilize eye and ear 

 instruments whose delicate edges forbid their being 

 boiled. The formalin is vaporized in a closed space 

 where the instruments are placed. For fumigating 

 rooms after contagious diseases the vaporization of the 

 formaldehyd gas is accomplished by adding to the for- 

 malin potassium permanganate in the proportion of 

 8 ounces of potassium permanganate to 16 ounces of 

 formalin for each 1000 cubic feet to be fumigated. 



When the two drugs are mixed a rapid effervescence 

 takes place, with the production of considerable heat, 

 whereby the gas is vaporized. The vessel containing 

 the mixture should be placed within another containing 

 water, as the heat may be sufficient to ignite wood or 

 other inflammable substances with which it comes in 

 contact. Bedding, clothing, etc., should be spread out, 

 and drawers and boxes opened to allow the gas to gain 

 access to them. All doors, windows, or other openings 

 should be closed and paper or adhesive plaster pasted 

 over all cracks or crevices where the gas might escape. 

 The gas should be allowed to remain in the room for 

 at least ten hours. 



Acetozone. This is a new non-poisonous germicide 

 of great value. It is of value only in solutions, and as 



