330 THE HORSE 



Heat, when it is convenient to employ a temperature of 

 230° to 250° Fahrenheit, may be used for disinfecting 

 any hnen articles, but it is not suitable for woollen clothing, 

 or anything that will char easily, such as leather. Boiling 

 for half an hour will destroy germs in clothing, while steam 

 can be used with perfect safety, and penetrates everywhere 

 with ease. 



Crude carbolic acid mixed with water, Izal, and Jeyes' 

 Fluid are all cheap chemical drugs, suitable for washing 

 stable floors and disinfecting drains, whilst they may also 

 be used for damp, ill-ventilated cellars. 



Permanganate of Potassium is suitable for the same 

 purpose, and a mixture may be made : — 



P. Potassium 10 parts] to be dissolved in 



Common Salt ... S^ ,, I one thousand parts 



Acid Sodium Sulphate 25 ,, | of water 



Formalin, or formaldehyde, has only the objection of cost. 

 It can be used either as a spray or burnt in the solid form, 

 para-formaldehyde, and converted into gas. It possesses the 

 invaluable merit of not tarnishing metals, as sulphur does, 

 or damaging clothing, and is very useful for destroying 

 moths. As a spray, it can be used to disinfect stables, 

 pigstyes, fowl-houses, and such-like ; whilst in small places 

 which can be closely shut up, the conversion into gas is oft- 

 times the preferable plan. 



Sulphur Dioxide is at once one of the most effective and 

 cheapest of disinfectants, but it is open to the objection that 

 it tarnishes all metals, and no bits, stirrup-irons, &c., should 

 be exposed to its fumes. It can be easily employed in the 

 usual way, by burning it in an open iron pot or other vessel, 

 the place where it is used being carefully fastened up, every 

 chink being attended to, and the place kept closed for some 

 hours afterwards. Sulphur candles can be bought in dif- 

 ferent sizes for varying proportions of cubic capacity. Liquid 

 Sulphur Dioxide can likewise be obtained, and used instead 

 as a disinfectant. 



Antiseptics retard the growth and activity of micro- 

 organisms, and thus promote healing. Any disinfectant in 



