USE OF DISINFECTANTS 569 



has in most instances the disadvantage that the water carries 

 the microorganisms to be destroyed into cracks and possibly 

 through the floor, where they will not be affected by the later 

 application of the germicide. It is deemed safer to simply use 

 a dry cleaning, avoiding dust as much as possible, and to burn 

 the sweepings or to thoroughly wet them with a strong dis- 

 infectant. The disinfectant is then applied in sufficient 

 quantity to thoroughly saturate the surfaces, including the 

 adhering particles of dirt. The solutions available for stable 

 disinfection are cheap enough to admit of this precaution. 



In the application of disinfectants it is well to use a broom 

 and thoroughly scrub the floor and lower part of the walls. 

 This is necessary in order to get the disinfectant through the 

 dirt and into the crevices of the floor. The disinfectants can 

 be applied to the ceilings and upper parts of the side walls with ^ 

 a spray pump. 



It is often desirable to disinfect yards where infected 

 animals have been kept. It is well in such cases to carefully 

 scrape together and burn the litter, after which the surface of 

 the soil must be disinfected. For this the milk of lime or a 

 very liberal coating of slaked lime has been recommended. The 

 burning of the surface such as can be done by covering it with 

 a layer of old straw and burning, is a more certain destroyer, 

 especially if animal parasities are to be eliminated. The 

 method of disinfecting with a flame as described by Ferbusch 

 in 1896, and recently recommended by Stiles for disinfecting 

 kennels, pens and yards offers possibilities not found in other 

 means. The procedure consists of a "Cyclone burner" at- 

 tached to the end of a long iron tube with a wooden shield. 

 This is connected with a short piece of hose of the kind made 

 for the delivering of oil attached to a spray pump. A tank of 

 suitable size is taken and parafiin gas oil is used. The spray 

 of oil is ignited, giving a very hot and effective flame, which is 

 run over the surface to be disinfected. The flame destroys all 

 living things on the surface. This method seems to be appli- 

 cable to the disinfection of floors and stables as well as yards, 

 when the conditions are permissible and when the flame can 



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