SOME EXPERIMENTS WITH THE "CATTANACH DIS- 

 INFECTANT AND DEODORANT," AS COMPARED 

 WITH THE ORDINARY CARBOLIC POWDER. 



By Dr. Oscar Katz. 



For some time past a Sydney Company, the "Cattanach Chemical 

 Works Company, Limited," has produced a preparation in the 

 shape of a powder, called the " Cattanach Disinfectant and 

 Deodorant," which is guaranteed by the firm " to destroy all 

 disease germs and to thoroughly deodorize and disinfect all faecal, 

 foul, or decaying animal and vegetable matter." The inventor of 

 this " improved disinfectant and deodorant," H. M. Caldwell, had 

 it patented in Sydney, in August, 1887. From his specification as 

 to its composition and mode of application I derive the following : 

 — It represents a mixture of two diflierent preparations ; let them 

 be termed A and B. The former (A) consists of equal parts of 

 nitrate of potash, peroxide of manganese, and hydroxide of potash, 

 of which the first two are carefully mixed while the third is added 

 after having been dissolved in a sutficient quantity of water. The 

 moisture is then evaporated ; the now dry mass ground to powder, 

 fused at a low red heat for about 2 4 hours, and steamed till it assumes 

 a suitable running consistence. After this process it is neutralised 

 with sulphuric acid and allowed to crystallise by evaporation. 

 The second preparation (B) is sulphate of iron, " from which all 

 sulphuric acid is driven off by roasting at 212* to 900°F." This is 

 " to minimise the action of any sulphuric acid upon vessels in 

 which the powder may be used." " One part of (A) is then carefully 

 mixed with 48 parts of (B), and with one part of peroxide of 



