PRACTICAL DISINFECTION OF ROOMS 107 



Clothes, hangings, and bed-linen from infectious cases 

 should, if possible, be sent to a steam-disinfector, as they 

 are in no way injured by the process, and are rendered 

 perfectly sterile. 



Excreta should be received into a solution of mercuric 

 chloride (1 in 2,000), or into a 4 per cent, solution of 

 bleaching-powder (6 ounces to the gallon). It must be re- 

 membered that, when we employ mercuric chloride, any albu- 

 minous matter in solution will form an insoluble precipitate, 

 which is useless as far as germicidal action goes. If solu- 

 tions of permanganates are employed, they will certainly part 

 with their oxygen to oxidizable organic matter before the 

 organized and resistant cell of the bacterium is attacked. 

 The ' disinfection ' of closets, except in cases where they 

 are used to receive excreta from infectious cases, is neither 

 necessary nor advisable; in a properly - managed closet 

 there is nothing to disinfect, and the use of any agent to 

 wash or destroy effluvia will only lead to obscuring the 

 ready perception of the in-leakage of sewer gas, or the 

 necessity of proper ventilation. The disinfection of sewers 

 and street-gullies is useless for the same reason, and if 

 bad gases are given off, it is because proper ventilation has 

 not been provided, or because of the stagnation of the 

 sewage. These remarks do not apply to the flushing of 

 sewers, which is in many places essential to their mainten- 

 ance in proper condition. 



Practical Disinfection of Rooms. — It is utterly useless to 

 attempt the disinfection of the air of rooms which seems 

 to be sought after by some, but the floor, walls, ceiling, 

 hangings, furniture, etc., should be dealt with. 



As by far the greater number of bacteria must be on the 

 floor, it is important to destroy them first, and not to 

 allow them to be stirred up into the air by the movement 

 of those engaged in the subsequent operations. To ensure 

 this, the floor and carpet should be liberally sprinkled with 



