300 
NEWS AND SUNDRIES. 
NEWS AND SUNDRIES. 
Disinfection. —The experimental evidence on record indicates 
that the following named disinfectants are the most generally 
useful, from a practical point of view: Moist heat. —A boiling 
temperature quickly destroys all known pathogenic organisms in 
the absence of spores. A temperature of 230° Fahr.—steam 
under pressure maintained for ten minutes, will destroy spores. 
Chloride oflhne. —A four per cent, solution quickly destroys all 
micro-organisms, including spores. Labarraque’s solution (liquor 
sodse chlorinatse,) is equally efficient when of corresponding 
strength. Mercuric Chloride, in aqueous solution, in the propor¬ 
tion of 1-10,000, is a reliable agent for the destruction of micro¬ 
cocci and bacilli in active growth, not containing spores; in the 
proportion of 1-1.000 it destroys the spores of bacilli, when they 
are fairly exposed to its action for a sufficient length of time 
(two hours). Carbolic acid cannot be relied upon for the de¬ 
struction of spores. This agent is recommended for the disinfec¬ 
tion of the excreta of patients with cholera (five per cent, solu¬ 
tion). A two per cent, solution may be used for disinfecting 
clothing, etc. Sulphate of Copper is largely used as a disin¬ 
fectant in France. It is efficient in the proportion of one per 
cent, for the destruction of micro-organisms without spores; for 
excreta, use a live per cent, solution. Sulphurous acid gas is the 
most useful gaseous disinfectant, and is mainly relied upon for 
the disinfection of ships, hospital wards, etc. It is important 
for the destruction of spores, and exact experiments show that 
its disinfecting power, as determined by biological tests, has been 
very much over-estimated.— Science. 
Increase of Animal Diseases. —The natural deduction is 
that so long as we must resort to slaughter, ample and uniform 
powers must be given aud maintained throughout the States to 
condemn, kill and recompense. At the same time the most lib¬ 
eral government, expenditure is demanded for investigations into 
causes and treatment of the diseases. The losses by swine plague 
alone during the last five months reach so far up into the millions 
that the paltry thousands expended by the National Cattle Com- 
