274 
m. ledoyen's disinfecting fluid. 
chlorine and lime is applicable as a disinfecting agent, and 
might, it is believed, be advantageously employed. 
"Second Method, by Fixation. This method is chiefly appli- 
cable to the sulphuretted hydrogen, which may, as is well 
known, be decomposed by a great number of metallic salts. 
These salts consist of an acid in combination with the oxide of 
a metal. When sulphuretted hydrogen is passed through or 
added to a solution of one of the salts alluded to, its sulphur 
combines with the metal, forming an insoluble inodorous metallic 
sulphuret. 
" The hydrogen combines with the oxygen of the metallic 
oxide, forming water, and the acid of the metallic salt is set free. 
Ci With regard to the particular process of M. Ledoyen, the 
experiments conducted by that gentleman at St.Thomas's Hos- 
pital led to the conclusion that his process was founded on the 
second method before alluded to; namely, that of the fixation of 
the sulphuretted hydrogen by a metallic salt, and that the actual 
metallic salt employed was .* 
<£ This opinion has been frequently verified by M. Ledoyen 
himself, who, in the most candid manner, not only admitted the 
composition of his fluid to be such as is here stated, but also de- 
livered a bottle of it to Dr. Leeson for analysis and further ex- 
periment. 
" In regard to its efficacy as a disinfecting agent, the general 
result of these experiments establish the conclusion that the 
efficacy of this process is confined to the removal of the un- 
pleasant odours due to sulphuretted hydrogen and hydro-sul- 
phate of ammonia. As the sulphuretted hydrogen is the most 
abundant and most offensive of the various products of animal 
and vegetable decomposition, it is evident that although this pro- 
cess cannot remove the whole of the offensive odours, it is still 
well suited to effect a very important and extensive ameliora- 
tion of the nuisance arising therefrom. 
"In regard to the application of this liquid as a dressing to 
putrescent sores, there can be no doubt that it will be found use- 
ful, and that it possesses several advantages over those in com- 
mon use; among others, that it is itself inodorous, that it corrects 
* This omission occurs in the Report, as here printed. 
