SULPHUR — FORMALDEHYDE FORMALIN. 



methyl alcohol, commonly called wood-alcohol, 

 in a specially constructed lamp. One and a half 

 pints of alcohol are required for each one 

 thousand cubic feet of air space. The process 

 of converting this amount of alcohol into 

 formaldehyde gas or vapor takes less than two 

 hours, and the rooms or wards are ready for 

 free ventilation at the expiration of eight hours. 

 Observe the same method of packing crevices 

 of doors, windows, transoms, etc., and of clos- 

 ing grate openings and key holes as described 

 in sulphur fumigation. 



In some hospitals, potassium permanganate 

 crystals are combined with formaldehyde solu- 

 tion in order to liberate gas more readily and 

 rapidly. The liquid formaldehyde is poured 

 over the crystals.* It is also said to increase 

 the germicidal properties of the formaldehyde. 

 Formaldehyde and sulphur dioxide tapers are 

 used with good result also. A wet sheet or 

 other moisture must be present in the room or 

 ward to be disinfected when using these tapers. 

 Solidified formaldehyde is a preparation recom- 

 mended by many. A very simple, specially 

 constructed lamp is used for generating the 

 gas which is liberated very rapidly. Moisture 

 in the room or ward during its use is believed 

 to be unnecessary; the preparation itself being 



*For a room fifteen feet square, five ounces of 

 permanganate crystals and twenty ounces of formalde- 

 hyde solution are used. 



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