DISINFECTANTS, ANTISEPTICS AND DEODORANTS 689 



tions. Far more efficacious is mechanical cleansing of the 

 skin with soap, water and the scrubbing brush, and even of 

 infected raw surfaces with the brush and corrosive sublimate 

 solution (1-1000), supplemented, if necessary, by the knife, 

 caustic and drainage, to remove necrosed tissue and septic 

 material. 



CHEMICAL AGENTS. 



Mercuric bichloride, carbolic acid, quicklime, chlori- 

 nated lime, sulphurous acid, and chlorine, are more fre- 

 quently employed as disinfectants. Corrosive sublimate 

 solutions are decomposed by keeping, and by contact with 

 albumin and ammonia. Acids, or common salt, added to 

 bichloride solutions prevent, in a measure, this decomposi- 

 tion ; but, nevertheless, mercuric bichloride is rendered unfit 

 for the disinfection of masses of decomposing aTbuminous 

 matter, as manure. One of the best solutions, employed by 

 the Paris Disinfection Service, is composed of corrosive 

 sublimate, 2 grammes ; tartaric acid, 4 grammes ; and water, 



1 litre (1-500), colored with 5 drops of a 5 per cent, solution 

 of indigo carminate. An English solution, in common use, 

 consists of corrosive sublimate, 1 ounce ; hydrochloric acid, 



2 ounces, and water to make 3 gallons (1-768). The usual 

 strength of corrosive sublimate solutions, for disinfection, 

 varies from 1-500 to 1-1000. These solutions are suitable 

 for aiticles made wholly, or in part, of leather, rubber and 

 fur ; for blankets, cotton and woolen fabrics, and for floors, 

 walls, and wood work of stables. Surgical instruments, and 

 other metallic implements and fixtures, are injured by corro- 

 sive sublimate solutions. Carbolic acid is more expensive 

 than corrosive sublimate, and less efficient in cases where 

 the latter is applicable. Carbolic acid can, however, be used 

 to disinfect albuminous material and metallic substances. 

 It is employed on animal excreta in 5 per cent, aqueous 

 solution (about 8 ounces to the gallon of hot water). This 

 solution will cause the hands to dry, crack and fissure if 

 they are immersed in it for any length of time. 



