32 MEDICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



pharmacists, sanitary barber shops and other dealers for the disinfection of 

 shaving, hair, tooth and other brushes. Paraform is here used as the generator 

 and the gas passing through wire shelves can readily come into contact with all 

 articles placed therein. 



The value of gaseous formaldehyde as a germicide has from time to time been 

 disputed. This question has, however, been recently settled by a discussion, 

 in which numerous authorities and health officers entered; all favoring a con- 

 tinuance of formaldehyde gas disinfection (see Williams, " Aerial or Gaseous 

 Disinfection," Journ. of the American Pharmaceutical Association, March, 



Sulphur has been extensively used for the generation of SO 2 gas, which is 

 an efficient germicide. In order to be effective, water must be vaporized, since 

 the disinfecting action takes place upon the formation of sulphurous acid by the 

 gas with water. From 3 to 3^ pounds of sulphur should be burned for each 

 1000 cubic feet of space and the gas be allowed to remain in contact for at least 

 24 hours. This gas is an active bleaching agent. It is perhaps more used as 

 an insecticide rather than a germicide, a property which is not possessed by 

 formaldehyde. When used for killing insects and vermin water need not 

 be used in conjunction with it, because it is just as efficient for this purpose when 

 dry, and thus will not seriously tarnish or bleach the contents of the room. 



Don't attempt to use formaldehyde and sulphur at the same time, the latter 

 as an insecticide and the former as a germicide. Instead of acting as synergists 

 they seem to oppose each other. 



Oxygen in its nascent state is an active bactericidal agent. It is this gas 

 that performs the germicidal action when chlorine is used as a gaseous disin- 

 fectant. The latter acts only in the presence of moisture, in which the hy- 

 drogen of the water molecule unites to form HC1 with the chlorine, liberating 

 the nascent oxygen. The latter then does the disinfection. This gas practic- 

 ally is inadequate because of its active bleaching and injurious properties upon 

 all materials. 



Bromine has been used both as an insecticide as well as a germicide, but is 

 so poisonous as to be too dangerous for ordinary use. 



Hydrocyanic gas is used as an insecticide. It is powerful enough to kill 

 insects but has no effect upon foliage. When used, the trees, foliage and other 

 environment are covered to keep in the vapor and the gas is generated from 

 KCN and dilute HC1, being kept in over night. This gas is rarely used for any 

 purpose, other than the disinfection of foliage, because of its deadly poisonous 

 properties. 



For years the apothecary has been directed to have present in the con- 

 tainers of the various drugs, small vials containing chloroform, ether or other 

 such volatile substances, which because of their antiseptic character, are both 

 detrimental to the propagation of bacteria and perhaps more so to the life of the 

 various parasites these drugs harbor. Notable examples of such drugs are ergota 

 linums, etc. The various "waters" of the United States Pharmacopeia may 

 be kept for a greater length of time by adding to such containers a few drops of 



