BACTERIOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL. 
Bichloride of Mercury solution will destroy 
'all forms of bacteria and their spores. Strength 
1-500 required for spores—exposure one hour. 
Bichloride of mercury is not reliable for the dis¬ 
infection of excreta, because of its power to pre¬ 
cipitate an albuminous deposit, which forms a 
coating around the substance and prevents the 
solution from penetrating the mass. It is a good 
disinfectant for rooms, clothing or bedding. It 
ruins instruments or anything in the shape of 
metals. 
In making up bichloride of mercury solu¬ 
tions, tablets containing seven and a half grains 
are often used. One of these tablets added to 
one pint of water makes a 1-1000 solution. One 
to a quart a 1-2000 solution; 1-1000 is the strong¬ 
est solution used for almost any purpose. Water 
is added to obtain tile weaker solutions generally 
used. For example, if you have a quart of 
1-1000 solution prepared and the doctor asks 
for three quarts of 1-4000 solution, add three 
quarts of warm sterile water to your quart of 
I-1000 solution, and you will have the desired 
strength. If only a small quantity, say one pint 
of the solution 1-4000 is needed, take four 
ounces of the 1-1000 solution and add to it twelve 
ounces of water of the required temperature. 
In using the bichloride of mercury powder (cor¬ 
rosive sublimate), dissolve seven and one-fourth 
grains (grs. 7%) * n each pint of water. 
Sublamine, which is another preparation of 
mercury, called ethylenediamin-sulphate of mer¬ 
cury, is used for all purposes in which bichloride 
of mercury solutions are used. It is considered 
by some to be less irritating than bichloride of 
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