FORMALDEHYDUM — FORMALIN 467 



staple condensation; products with many substances, such as proteids 

 (Glutol), carbohydrates (Uextroform, Amyloform), phenols, urea, 

 tannin (tannoform), Ammonia (Urotropin) and polymers (Para- 

 form). 



Therapeutics. 1. Disinfectant. Formaldehyde has been used 

 for sterilizing dressings and surgical material but on account of its 

 action on the hands, and irritating vapor, has lost favor. 



2. Disinfectant for-Booms and- Stables. Formaldehyde may be 

 used to disinfect rooms in any of the following ways : 



a. By soaking sheets in formalin and hanging them in the room. 



b. By heating a solution of formaldehyde and thus liberating 



the gas. 



c. By burning paraform candles or heating paraform. 



d. The Board of. Health of New York City recommends the ad- 



dition of one pound of fresh quicklime to a mixture of 6 

 ounces of aluminum sulphate and 8 ounces of solution of 

 formaldehyde for each 1000 cubic feet to be disinfected. 



e. Adding potassium permanganate to solution of formaldehyde. 



The Bureau of Animal Industry recommends the follow- 

 ing: For each 1000 cubic feet to be disinfected: add 1 

 pound of potassium permanganate to 20 ounces of formalin 

 contained in a large metal or enameled vessel. 

 With all methods of disinfecting with formalin, the rooms should 

 be tightly sealed and the gas allowed to act from 12 to 24 hours. 

 It is more effective in moist air than dry, therefore steam should be 

 provided if possible. Formaldehyde gas does not kill vermin. Eats, 

 guinea pigs, and rabbits have been found alive after many hours 

 exposure. Ammonia almost immediately neutralizes the gas. 



3. Formalin is often Serviceable in Grease Heel in 0.25 per cent 

 solution applied under bandage. As a disinfectant for instruments 

 use a 1 — 2 per cent, solution. 



4. Septicemia and Purpura Hemorrhagica. McClelland recom- 

 mends the intravenous use of formaldehyde for the treatment of these 

 diseases. He uses one dram of formalin or solution of formaldehyde 

 to two pints of water. 



5. White Scours. It has been recommended in the treatment of 

 white scours in calves, and acute gastric tympany of cattle. Some 

 of its preparations are excellent intestinal antiseptics and astringents 

 (Tannoform). 



6. Parasitic Skin Diseases, especially for those caused by the 

 vegetable .parasites ; also to disinfect foul wounds. 



7. To Remove Warts. It is claimed that warts may be removed 

 by rubbing formalin in them with a stick. 



8. Mastitis. Frost recommends daily doses of 25 to 30 mils of 

 solution of formaldehyde in capsule or milk in the treatment of 

 streptococcic mastitis. 



