248 MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



from the destruction of bacteria in laboratory experiments 

 The disinfection of a cattle car or a Pullman sleeper is a very 

 different matter from the killing of bacteria on silk threads or 

 glass rods or bits of paper. 



In the following pages only those substances which are in 

 common use or seem to be of special value will be considered. 



Verhoeff and Ellis* tested the following preparations for 

 their germicidal power for S. pyogenes aureus : For one minute 

 each, Liquor antisepticus, U. S. P.," 100 per cent.; Listerine, 100 

 per cent.; Lysol, i per cent.; Cresylone i per cent.; Trikresol, yts 

 per cent. ; Acetozone, j^ per cent. ; Alphozone, ^V P^^ cent., and 

 a number of other similar preparations in different strengths 

 and for different lengths of time. They found that while they 

 all killed the bacteria, none were more efhcacious than the 

 Liquor antisepticus. That any of the preparations act as 

 intestinal germicides, as is claimed for Alphozone and Aceto- 

 zone, is improbable from the fact that in albuminoid sus- 

 pension the bacteria were found alive after twenty-four hours' 

 action, of these agents. 



Mercuric Chloride or Corrosive Sublimate. — This substance 

 is probably more commonly used than any other one germicide. 

 But Geppert whose work in this direction has been abundantly 

 corroborated by others, found that the potency of corrosive 

 sublimate as a germicide had been greatly overrated. The 

 inhibitory action of corrosive sublimate, on the other hand, is 

 very great, and the veriest trace of it left adhering to the 

 bacteria is sufficient to prevent them from growing. Corro- 

 sive sublimate is difficult to remove by ordinary washing, traces 

 of it remain even after very thorough washing. But if the 

 last traces are removed by treatment with ammonium suphide 

 or other reagents which precipitate the mercury-salt without 

 themselves injuring the bacteria, growth takes place even where 

 the corrosive sublimate solutions have been used which are 

 *Journ. Am. Med. Assn. V. XLVIII., No. 26. 1907. pp. 2175-2176. 



