Ama^dir,'i874RM'}  Disinfectants,  Antiseptics  and  Deodorizers.  181 
all  the  vibriones,  but  did  not  seem  to  interfere  with  their  reproduc- 
tion, although  after  sixteen  days  the  solution  contained  only  about 
half  as  many  as  a  simple  one,  which  had  been  reserved  for  compari- 
son. Chloride  of  aluminium,  sulphurous  and  hydrocyanic  acids  be- 
haved in  the  same  manner,  but  after  sixteen  days  the  solutions  con- 
tained quite  as  many  vibriones  as  the  simple  trial  mixture.  Hypo- 
chlorite of  calcium,  chloride  of  mercury,  chlorine  water,  caustic  soda, 
acetic  acid,  nitric  acid,  sulphate  of  iron  and  sulpho-carbolate  of  sodium 
at  first  destroyed  a  large  proportion  of  the  vibriones,  but  afterwards 
seemed  to  favor  their  regeneration  to  such  an  extent  that  these  solu- 
tions finally  contained  more  vibriones  than  the  trial  mixture.  Arseni- 
ous  acid,  the  chlorides  of  sodium,  calcium  and  potassium,  sulphate  of 
calcium,  turpentine  and  pepper  exerted  no  effect  on  these  organisms, 
neither  at  the  beginning  nor  after  the  sixteen  days,  during  which  the 
studies  were  prosecuted.  Lime,  charcoal,  permanganate  of  potassium, 
phosphate  of  sodium  and  caustic  ammonia  favored  the  production  of 
both  vibriones  and  moulds. 
We  may  next  examine  the  peculiar  manner  in  which  disinfectants 
accomplish  their  results.  We  find  that  their  different  modes  of  action 
may  be  grouped  together  under  five  different  classes,  as  described  in 
the  following  table,  which  has  been  compiled  by  Dr.  Henry  Harts- 
horne  : — 
1st.  By  the  absorption  of  gases  and  by  preventing  their  emanations, 
as  dry  earth,  lime  and  charcoal. 
2d.  By  neutralizing  and  fixing  sulph-hydric  acid,  as  nitrate  of  lead. 
3d.  By  antiseptic  action,  that  is,  by  arresting  putrefactive  changes 
in  organic  matter,  as  sulphurous  acid. 
4th.  By  decomposing  sulph-hydric  acid  and  organic  matter,  as  chlo- 
rine. 
5th.  By  destroying  organic  disease  germs  or  morbid  poisons  of  in- 
fection and  contagion. 
Substances  possessing  the  properties  of  the  first  two  classes  should 
be  called  deodorizers,  while  those  embraced  in  the  fifth  class  have  a 
just  claim  to  be  considered  as  disinfectants.  The  agents  included  in 
the  fourth  class  act  as  deodorizers,  but  may  also  become  true  disin- 
fectants if  used  in  sufficiently  large  proportion. 
It  seems  to  be  a  curious  fact  that  the  oxidation  of  perfumes  and 
volatile  oils  is  generally  accompanied  by  an  active  ozonization  of  the 
tmosphere.    Prof.  Paolo  Mantegazza,  of  Pavia,  who  has  carefully 
