DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION. 181 
From Wood Alcohol. A number of lamps have been 
devised, all very much on the same principle, though 
varying somewhat in mechanical construction, which 
bring about the incomplete oxidation of methyl-alcohol 
by passing the vapors mixed with air over the incan- 
descent metal. Although disinfection can be carried 
out by the best of these lamps, in our experience none 
of them up to the present time are satisfactory or eco- 
nomical, They may be very useful as deodorizers in 
the sick-room or other places. 
In spite of present failures, it is, however, probable 
that in the future this method may become practicable. 
From Formochloral by the Trillat System. This sys- 
tem consists in heating, under three atmospheres of 
pressure, a solution of formaldehyde gas in water 
mixed with 30 per cent. of calcium chloride, known 
as ‘‘formochloral,’? to a temperature of 135° C. 
(255° F.). It is claimed for this method of pro- 
ducing the gas from formochloral that the polymeri- 
zation of the formaldehyde is prevented, which would 
otherwise take place if a solution of formaldehyde were 
evaporated under ordinary conditions, and that thereby 
the whole of the formaldehyde is obtained in the gas- 
eous state. The addition of any neutral salt aids the 
process, it is said, but calcium chloride is the best. 
The results with this apparatus have been satisfactory, 
but not more so than by other methods. The appa- 
ratus is expensive and heavy. 
From Formalin by the New York Sanitary Construction 
Company’s System. This system consists in heating 
the ordinary commercial formalin to a temperature of 
about 1000° F. in an incandescent copper coil or 
chamber, and allowing the vapors to pass off freely. 
