DESTRUCTION OF BACTERIA. 
23 
min. It is liable to rust iron and steel. It is suitable 
for the disinfection of urine, sputum, feces, and albu¬ 
minous discharges. It is not a good skin disin¬ 
fectant because it hardens the skin and in some cases 
will cause a dermatitis. 
Bichloride of mercury is of limited usefulness 
because it is a corrosive poison, corrodes all metals, 
and coagulates albumin. This last action renders it of 
little use for the disinfection of sputum, feces, or pus. 
On the other hand, it is excellent for disinfecting 
floors, walls, and furniture; that is, surface disinfec¬ 
tion. In the strength of i: 1000 it kills bacteria in a 
half an hour, but for spores a i: 500 solution must be 
used. It is widely used for skin disinfection; for this 
purpose a 1: 1000 solution is sufficiently strong. On 
account of the poisonous property of bichloride solu¬ 
tions it is safer to add coloring material to prevent any 
possibility of their being drunk by mistake. 
Carbolic acid is suitable for the disinfection of 
intestinal discharges, sputum, urine, floors, furniture, 
soiled linen, and clothing. It will coagulate albumin, 
but its action is not interfered with to so great an 
extent as is the case with bichloride of mercury. 
Cresols, chemical substances closely related to carbolic 
acid, are more powerful and not so poisonous. They 
may be used in 5 per cent, solution. 
Chlorinated lime is a deodorant as well as a dis¬ 
infectant, both properties being dependent upon the 
liberation of chlorine gas in the presence of moisture. 
It is most widely known and used for the disinfec- 
