36 BACTERIOLOGY FOE NURSES 



useless except for the destruction of mosquitoes and 

 bedbugs, which may be carriers of disease germs. 



Sulphur fumigation with moisture will not destroy 

 spore-bearing bacteria of any kind. 



Sulphur fumes tarnish all metals and discolor 

 most fabrics. 



Permanganate of potas sium is used for disinfecting 

 the hands in surgical work. 



Copper sulphate is used (1 : 1,000,000) for the 

 destruction of the microscopic algae in large water 

 supplies. 



BidilQn£l£.u^~Jiii£txwy (corrosive sublimate) is 

 probably the most important chemical disinfectant 

 known, although for some purposes it cannot be used. 

 It corrodesL, all metals and thej efQre_cannot^be used 

 upon surgi c al instrum ents, nor pl umbin g fixtures. 

 Neither can bichloride of mercury be used for the 

 disinfection of excreta or other organic matter, as it 

 combines with the albuminous substances and pro- 

 duces an inert compound which has no effect upon 

 the bacteria. The standard solution 1 : 1000 bi- 

 chloride of mercury is us ed for disinfecti ngjbhe skin 

 and for_ja;ashiu g floor s and other :sgoo dwork and 

 furniture _a£tB£-ajiinfexitiaus illness. 



CajboUiL.jicid^ jjphsm\X^ best-known 



disinfectants, is a substance derived ^ from coal tar, 



