314 UR BODIES AND HOW WE LIVE 



428. Disinfection. The destruction of the germs of dis- 

 ease by means of heat, chemical agents, fumigation, or fresh 

 air is known as disinfection. It is a most efficient and 

 practical means for preventing the spread of disease. 



Some substances kill bacteria and are known as germicides. 

 Other substances prevent the development of bacteria 

 and resulting septic action, and these are called antiseptics. 

 The word "disinfectant" is often used with more or less 

 confusion to cover both^these words. 1 



A deodorant is a substance that removes or conceals 

 offensive odors. Deodorizers are not necessarily disin- 

 fectants. 



429. Some Common Disinfectants. There are many ways 

 of disinfecting, and much interesting research in this direc- 

 tion is going on all the time. The destruction of infected 

 material by fire is a sure but costly means of disinfection. 

 Heat in various forms, as dry heat, steam, and boiling water, 

 is a valuable disinfectant and does not injure most fabrics. 

 These agents are generally used in combination with various 

 chemical disinfectants. 



Certain chemical agents that are capable of destroying 

 microorganisms are in general use. A compound of mer- 

 cury, called corrosive sublimate, is a most efficacious and 

 powerful germicide, but is exceedingly poisonous and can 

 be bought only under restrictions. 



1 The sense in which the word " disinfectant " is commonly used is often 

 wrong. When people say they will " disinfect " something, they generally 

 mean that they will use some chemical to destroy a bad smell or mask it 

 by another bad smell. The odor in itself is all the while quite harmless, 

 although disagreeable, and even if it were a terrible menace, the drowning 

 of it in another bad smell would not lessen the danger. As a matter of 

 fact, many of the worst products of decomposition are odorless. When 

 people use the word, therefore, in this sense, they should say " deodorize." 



