456 ON DEODORIZATION AND DISINFECTION. 
agents used for similar purposes, as these are usually sold, and 
considering the comparative quantities of them that are requisite. 
As for the Ledoyen fluid (not to speak at present of the radical 
error its proposer made in taking such a poisonous substance as 
lead for a base), I believe it is advertised for sale at sixpence 
sterling for a bottle containing about eighteen ounces, while the 
same sum will purchase about 246 ounces of the diluted Burnett 
fluid. 
Nearly all the medical practitioners of Montreal and Quebec 
have made trial of, and are completely satisfied with, the anti- 
bromic powers of the Burnett fluid. 
III . — Of the Disinfecting Properties of the Burnett Fluid. 
Some of our best medical authorities do not agree in the mean- 
ing they appear to attach to the word disinfect, some restricting it 
to an action on infectious miasm, and others apparently extending 
it to an action on offensive odours not in any away conneced with 
infectious miasmata. By a disinfecting substance, I mean one 
which either — 1, destroys infection ; or, 2, greatly lessens its in- 
tensity. 
The question of infection is one of the most subtle and difficult 
in medicine, and has called forth the most decided and opposite 
opinions from writers on the subject of fever. As infection is 
known only by its effects, and eludes any attempt to subject it 
to experiment, it is, in consequence, allowable to call in the aid 
of theory, as long as this is reasonable, and not at variance with 
facts. 
As Professor Alison observes — “ If hypotheses are introduced 
sparingly, and the grounds on which they rest fairly stated, they 
are admitted to be part of the process by which the knowledge of 
the truth is attained, even in the most strictly inductive sciences ; 
and those who profess to reject and despise them are not those 
whose opinions are the most exempt from their influence.” 
According to Liebig, ammonia is always generated in sick 
rooms, and particularly so where the disease is infectious ; he also 
considers that this ammonia is the vehicle of the infectious prin- 
ciple, and what renders it volatile, so that if the ammonia be re- 
moved the infectious essence ceases to act. By freely using the 
chloride of zinc solution in a sick room, the ammonia becomes 
muriate of ammonia, and the air of the apartment is, according to 
this theory, completely disinfected : this is presuming that all the 
air in the room has been brought under the action of the chloride 
of zinc solution. 
If the chloride of zinc has not been sufficiently used, there may 
