180       Disinfectants,  Antiseptics  and  Deodorizers.  {AMAp?ui,'m4RM' 
The  results  arrived  at  may  be  summarized  as  follows:  Only  car- 
bolic and  cresylic  acids  prevented  the  formation  of  both  mould  and 
vibriones.  The  chlorides  of  zinc  and  mercury,  and  sulpho-carbol- 
ate  of  zinc,  prevented  the  generation  of  protoplasmic  life,  but  not  of 
mould.  Lime,  sulphate  of  quinia,  pepper  and  hydrocyanic  acid  ad- 
mitted of  the  production  of  vibriones,  but  not  of  mould.  A  fourth 
class  of  bodies  had  no  antagonistic  effect  on  either  of  them,  compris- 
ing sulphurous,  sulphuric,  nitric,  arsenious  and  acetic  acids,  caustic 
soda,  potassa  and  ammonia,  the  chlorides  of  sodium,  calcium  and 
aluminium,  hypochlorite  of  calcium,  chlorate  of  potassium,  the  sul- 
phates of  calcium  and  iron,  bisulphate  of  calcium,  hyposulphite  of 
calcium,  the  phosphates  of  sodium  and  calcium,  permanganate  of  po- 
tassium, the  sulpho-carbolates  of  potassium  and  sodium,  picric  acid, 
turpentine  and  charcoal. 
Hypochlorite  of  calcium  acted  as  an  antiseptic  only  when  used  in 
large  excess,  by  decomposing  organic  compounds  with  the  evolution 
of  nitrogen.  The  assumption  that  chlorinated  lime  renders  organic 
substances  incapable  of  putrefaction,  is  consequently  fallacious.  On 
the  contrary,  when  used  in  small  proportion,  like  other  agents  which 
favor  oxidation,  it  actually  promotes  decay  and  the  generation  of  in- 
fusorial life  ;  but  when  about  four  per  cent  is  added,  it  checks  the 
development  of  animalcules  in  organic  solutions,  and  also  destroys 
the  vitality  of  vaccine  lymph. 
Special  attention  is  also  called  to  the  action  of  the  sulphate  of 
quinia,  which,  while  not  interfering  with  vibrio  life,  completely  ar- 
rests the  growth  of  fungi.  As  quinia  is  as  near  a  specific  for  inter- 
mittent fever  as  any  that  we  possess,  it  seems  probable  that  this  dis- 
ease is  caused  by  the  introduction  of  the  germs  of  low  vegetable  forms 
into  the  system.  The  prevalence  of  intermittent  fever  in  marshy  dis- 
tricts, contrasted  with  its  rarity  in  high  and  dry  regions,  seems  to  be 
another  argument  to  strengthen  this  theory. 
In  a  second  series  of  experiments,  Dr.  Crace  Calvert  employed  solu- 
tions of  albumen  in  which  organisms  had  already  been  formed,  to  which 
he  added  one  per  cent,  of  the  various  substances.  Cresylic  acid  com- 
pletely destroyed  the  vibriones  and  prevented  their  reappearance  during 
the  entire  continuation  of  the  trial.  Carbolic  acid,  sulphate  of  quinia, 
chloride  of  zinc  and  sulphuric  acid  killed  almost  all  the  vibriones, 
though  a  few  were  observed  towards  the  end  of  the  experiment.  Sul- 
pho  carbolate  of  zinc  and  picric  acid  were  likewise  fatal  to  almost 
