BACTERIOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL. 



V. — Length of Time Given the Dis- 

 infectant TO DO Good Work. As a rule, too 

 little attention is paid to the matter of teaching 

 pupil nurses the necessity for allowing articles 

 to be disinfected to remain in the solution, or 

 to be exposed to heat, etc., for a sufficient length 

 of time to obtain good, safe results. Give 

 definite instruction with regard to time required 

 to disinfect hands, clothing, instruments, and 

 so forth. Such instruction will save trouble 

 many times. 



Hot air, steam or boiling water, are all dis- 

 infectants or germicides. The value of hot air 

 or dry heat as a disinfectant is limited, as there 

 are so many things which cannot be disinfected 

 by either without being injured. Moist heat 

 (steam), is more penetrating than hot air, and 

 mattresses, clothing, and surgical instruments 

 can all be treated by moist heat without sustain- 

 ing injury. Clothing stained with pus, or fecal 

 matter, should not be disinfected with steam 

 heat, as the stains will be found difficult, if not 

 impossible, to remove afterward. 



Boiling water is warranted to destroy all 



KNOWN bacteria OR THEIR SPORES if CXpOSCd 



to its power for a sufficient period, and provided, 

 also, that a sufficient quantity is used to saturate 

 the mass. 

 Definition. INTERMITTENT STERILIZATION. By inter- 



mittent sterilization we mean the exposure of 

 ii6 



