11 
It is practically identical with Burnett's disinfecting fluid. 
In the preparation of the percentages of zinc chloride used in the 
following work 100 per cent solution was first prepared by adding 
enough distilled water to a given number of grams of the diy zinc 
chloride to make the same number of cubic centimeters of solution, 
e. g'., to 100 grams of diy zinc chloride sufficient water was added to 
make 100 c. c. of solution. This solution was kept as a stock from 
which the weaker dilutions were made. 
PROPERTIES AS A DEODORANT. 
Chloride of zinc is capable of combining with hydrogen sulphide, 
ammonia, and other ofi'ensive products of putrefaction, forming com- 
pounds that are comparativeh^ odorless; hence, zinc chloride is a 
deodorant. It is probable that this property is more or less responsi- 
ble for its historical reputation as a disinfectant. 
Zinc chloride unites with the ammonia given off' from organic matter 
undergoing decay to form ammonium chloride, zinc Iwlroxide, and 
various other compounds. With hydrogen sulphide it unites to form 
zinc sulphide, but the union is so feeble that it is rather easih^ broken 
up again into hydrogen sulphide, etc. As the sulphide of copper is 
a more stable compound than the sulphide of zinc, chloride of copper 
is sometimes used for the purpose of tixing the hydrogen sulphide. 
Experiments were performed to ascertain the value of chloride of 
zinc as a deodorant. Its properties as a deodorant w^e also observed 
and noted in the experiments that were conducted to determine its 
antiseptic powers. 
Erlenme}^er flasks were partly filled with definite quantities of sew- 
age (human excreta, stable manure, etc.) and varying definite quanti- 
ties of zinc chloride added in order to determine its deodorizing 
powers. As this property is a more or less variable one depending 
upon time, temperature, and kind and quantity of organic matter 
present, one series was kept at room temperature and another placed 
in the incubating room at a temperature of 37^ C. The zinc chloride 
was added in strengths varving from 1 : 10,000 to 1 : 50. It was observed 
that when zinc chloride was added to the above solutions in a propor- 
tion as little as 1 part in 10.000 a slight dimunition of the odor was at 
once perceptible. This became more marked as the proportion of 
zinc chloride was increased until in the strength of 1:300 only slight 
odor could be detected. In a strength of 1:200 the odor was practi- 
cally destroyed. 
In the series allowed to stand at incubator temperature the deodor- 
izing power gradualW diminished. At the end of ten days a slight, 
but not disagreeable, odor was. present in dilutions of 1:50, increasing' 
in the higher dilutions until in strengths of 1:300 the odor became 
