THE DISINFECTION OF THE EXCRETA.* 
By CHARLES A. HILL, B.A., M.B., B.C. Cantab. 
AND 
JOHN HILL ABRAM, M.D., Lond., M.R.C.P., Assistant Physician Royal Infirmary, 
Senior Demonstrator in Pathology, LTniversity College Liverpool 
From the Bacteriological Laboratories, University College Liverpool. Read at a meeting of the 
Lancashire and Cheshire Branch. 
The methods used for ascertaining the value of any disinfectant are mainly two, namely, 
the addition of definite quantities of the substance to an active broth culture, with subsequent 
inoculation upon various media after the lapse of varying intervals, and the action of solutions of 
known strength upon test organisms inoculated upon threads. 
These methods are valuable in that they determine the absolute working power of the 
disinfectant in definite conditions, but we have felt that direct experiment is necessary before 
conclusions derived from them can be adopted. This is more especially to be borne in mind in 
connection with the subject of our communication. 
We have limited our inquiry to the disinfection of the fasces, as, naturally, they are the 
most resistant. In our earlier experiments the disinfectant solution was added in excess to the 
solid fascal mass, but we speedily found that in not a single instance did we get any sterilization 
of the central portions. Therefore we would insist upon the necessity for thoroughly mixing up 
the fascal matter with the disinfectant selected. 
We have chosen half an hour as the time during which the mixture must be allowed to 
stand as being a convenient one in practice, though we admit that it is a severe test, and no doubt 
explains some of our results. After exposure for half an hour, plate cultivations were made in the 
usual manner with gelatine and agar-agar. 
* Reprinteil from the ' British Medical Journal,' April i6th, 1S98. 
