18% ACTION OF ACIDS AND ALKALIES. 
containing 0.3 per cent destroys the typhoid bacillus, and 0.183 per 
cent the cholera spirillum (Kitasato). The acid used contained 0.152 
gramme H,PO, in one cubic centimetre. 
Acetic Acid.—-A five-per-cent solution failed to kill anthrax 
spores after five days’ exposure (Koch). In Abbott’s experiments 
glacial acetic acid in fifty-per-cent solution failed in two hours to kill 
anthrax spores, but micrococci were killed by two hours’ exposure to 
a one-per-cent solution. A solution of 1:300 of glacial acetic acid 
destroys the cholera spirillum in half an hour (Van Ermengem). In 
the proportion of 0.25 per cent it restrains the growth of the typhoid 
bacillus, and 0.3 per cent destroys its vitality after five hours’ expo- 
sure ; the cholera spirillum fails to grow in presence of 0.132 per cent 
and is destroyed by 0.2 per cent (Kitasato). 
Lactic -lc/d.—The bacillus of typhoid fever is killed in five hours 
by a solution containing 0.4 per cent, the cholera spirillum by 0.3 per 
cent (Kitasato). 
Citric Acid.—The bacillus of typhoid fever is killed in five hours 
by 0.43 per cent, the cholera spirillum by 0.3 per cent (Kitasato). 
The cholera spirillum is killed in half an hour by 1:200 (Van Er- 
mengem). 
Oxalic Acid.—The typhoid bacillus requires a solution of 0.36 
per cent, the cholera spirillum one of 0.28 per cent, to destroy vitality 
in five hours (Kitasato). 
Boracic Acid.—In the writer’s experiments (1883) a saturated 
solution failed to kill pus cocci in two hours. <A five-per-cent solu- 
tion failed to destroy anthrax spores in five days (Koch). The 
typhoid bacillus is killed in five hours by 2.7 per cent, the cholera 
spirillum by 1.5 per cent (Kitasato). According to Arloing, Corne- 
vin, and Thomas, the fresh virus of symptomatic anthrax requires 
exposure to a twenty-per-cent solution for forty-eight hours for the 
destruction of vitality. Boracic acid acts as an antiseptic in the pro- 
portion of 1: 143 (Miquel). 
Salicylic Acid.—In the writer’s experiments this agent was dis- 
solved by the addition of sodium biborate, which by itself has no 
germicidal power. A two-per-cent solution was found to destroy pus 
cocci in two hours. Dissolved in oil or in alcohol a five-per-cent so- 
lution does not destroy anthrax spores (Koch). Micrococci are de- 
stroyed by solutions containing 1 : 400 (Abbott). The typhoid bacillus 
is killed in five hours by 1.6 per cent, the cholera spirillum by 1.3 per 
cent (Kitasato). A one-per-cent solution destroys Micrococcus Pas- 
teuri in half an hour (Sternberg). Itis an antiseptic in the propor- 
tion of 1:1,000 (Miquel). A solution of 2.5 per cent kills the tubercle 
bacillus in six hours (Yersin). In the proportion of 1 :300it destroys 
the cholera spirillum in half an hour (Van Ermengem). 
