340 ijS'oegakic agents 



pathogenic bacteria. !Fo]*maldeliyde gas may be generated 

 by evaporating formalin in a vessel over a lafnp, or other 

 form of heating apparatus. 



Harrington states that the evaporation of 110 cc. of 

 formalin is sufficient to kill all pathogenic micro-organisms 

 within 2^ hours, in 1,000 cubic feet air space. Tormalde- 

 Lyde gas may be liberated most readily by mixing 16§ ounces 

 of potassium permanganate with each. 20 ounces of formalin. 

 This should be. only done in deep tin vessels to avoid the 

 effects of great frothing. This quantity of formalin and 

 potassium permanganate is necessary to disinfect each 1,000 

 cubic feet of air space. 



A solidified formaldehyde is also on the market to which 

 one need only add hot water, to free the gas. In veterinary 

 disinfection one may spray formalin in five per cent, solu- 

 tion with a force pump all over the floors, walls, fixtures, 

 etc. 



Rubber gloves should be used to protect the hands. 



Formalin, in :J to 2 per cent, solution, is perhaps the 

 most powerful antiseptic that has been used for surgical 

 purposes, but, when used in such strength upon raw sur- 

 faces and mucous membranes it produces pain and irrita- 

 tion and coagulates albumin so as to shut off the underlying 

 parts from participating in the antiseptic action. These 

 stronger solutions, although formerly employed for surgical 

 uses, should be confined to skin disinfection or where an 

 escharotic action is desired on sloughing tissues. Ordinarily 

 the strength of an aqueous solution should not exceed 

 1-2000, or at most 1-1000, for application to raw surfaces or 

 mucous membranes, and even in this dilution applications 

 sometimes produce considerable pain and irritation, and, for 

 this reason, are contraindicted for ordinary surgical use. 



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