DISINFECTANTS. ANTISEPTICS 205 



anthrax spores and rabies virus. Anthrax bacilli are destroyed 

 by a solution of 1 : 5000. Used in 1 to 3 per cent, solution in water. 

 For extensive disinfection, especially of railroad cars, Fischer and 

 Koske (Arb. aus d. Kais. Gesundheitsamt, 1903) recommend a 3 

 per cent, solution in water of a mixture of 2 parts of cresol and 1 

 part of sulphuric acid as more effective and cheaper than *lysol or 

 *liquor cresolis saponatus. Cresol-sulphuric acid solution to which 

 sodium chloride is added only freezes when the temperature falls 

 to 17 to 8.6° F., which makes it especially suitable for^ winter 

 disinfection (Kraut, ibid., 1907). 



Pix liquida. Tar. An excellent disinfectant covering. Wood 

 tar kills all pathogenic microorganisms, including anthrax spores 

 and tubercle bacilli. Coal tar destroys with certainty the bacilli 

 of anthrax, glanders and swine erysipelas, etc. 



Liquor formaldehydi. Formaldehyde is recommended as a 

 gaseous disinfectant for closed compartments, especially railroad 

 cars; very high disinfectant power. A certain disinfectant action, 

 however, can only be obtained by the employment of complicated 

 apparatus (lamps). On account of the volatility of formaldehyde, 

 the compartment to be disinfected must be made air tight (im- 

 possible with cattle cars). Furthermore, the disinfectant action is 

 only superficial, and anthrax spores are not destroyed. The process 

 is very expensive (a compartment of 100 cubic metres requires the 

 action of 500 grams of formaldehyde, or 1 J/^ liters of the official so- 

 lution for 33^ hours). Disinfection with fluids, 2 to 2J^ per cent, 

 of formaldehyde, has the same disadvantages and is also injurious 

 to health. See the investigations of von Perkuhn concerning the dis- 

 infection of stables with formaldehyde vapor by means of Lingner's 

 apparatus (Monatshefte fiir prakt. Tierheilkunde, 1905). 



*Autan. This preparation, which is used in a new method of 

 formaldehyde disinfection, is in the form of a dry powder contain- 

 ing a quantity of formaldehyde with alkaline peroxides; formalde- 

 hyde vapor is Hberated when water is added. Contradictory 

 results have been obtained in the investigations of this new material 

 and the experiments are not yet concluded (a newer and, it is 

 alleged, an improved preparation). The same conditions are 



