Contagious and Epizootic Diseases. 79 



Some disinfectants operate by destructive oxidation of the 

 infecting material. Simple aeration often acts thus, and 

 much more when the aerial oxygen is combined in the form 

 of ozone, so abundant after thunder-storms, and developed to 

 a lesser extent by camphor and some of the essential oils. 

 Ozone is, however, rapidly used up in filthy stables, in cities, 

 and in connection with decomposing organic matters gen- 

 erally. 



A much more prompt, thorough, and reliable oxidizing 

 disinfectant is fiee. Buening is the best of all disinfect- 

 ants. Eotten and filth-saturated wood-work, infected ma- 

 nure, fodder, litter, and even the infected carcases of animals 

 may be safely disposed of in this way. It may be used in a 

 plumber's charcoal stove placed in all parts of a stable in 

 succession, or over the opening of a drain, or as a lamp in 

 the ventilating outlet of an infected building. 



Certain oxygen-bearing agents, like running, rippling, or 

 falling water, and inert powders (charcoal, plaster-of -Paris) 

 which condense oxygen on their surface, and bring it into 

 closer contact with the adjoining germs and their products ; 

 also chemical agents which liberate oxygen (chlorine gas, 

 chloride of lime, permanganate of potassa, peroxide of 

 hydrogen, iodine, bromine, hyponitric acid, bichromate of 

 potass a, etc.), are more or less effective in the same way. 

 Other agents act on the germs in different ways, such as by 

 abstracting the oxygen requisite to the life of the germ, by 

 coagulating its albuminous substance and otherwise. To 

 this class belong the fumes of burning sulphur, the salts of 

 zinc, iron, manganese, copper, and mercury, also carbolic and 

 cresylic acids, creosote, thymol, menthol, and allied agents. 



Among these none holds a higher place than chloride of 

 mercui-y, but its highly poisonous nature forbids its general 

 use. In its place chloride of lime may be confidently and 

 safely used in the proportion of four ounces to every gallon 

 of a lime whitewash. Such a preparation has the advan- 



