286 
Scientific  Abstracts. 
5  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
(      April,  1921. 
too  low  to  allow  a  toxic  concentration  in  the  vapor  phase.  Nearly 
all  compounds  boil  above  2 15°  C.  are  uncertain  in  action  and  those 
which  boil  above  245 0  C.  are  non-toxic.  (Tattersfield  and  Roberts, 
/.  Afric.  Sci.  10,  199-232  [1920].) 
J.  F.  C. 
Germicidal  Value  of  Chlorine  Disinfectants. — Dr.  F.  W. 
Tilky,  of  the  Biochemic  Division,  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry,  has 
recently  published  the  results  of  a  very  careful  investigation  into 
the  germicidal  value  of  chloramin  T,  Dakin's  solution,  eusol  and 
chlorine.  He  concludes :  In  the  ordinary  routine  of  general  dis- 
infection, such  as  disinfection  of  cattle  pens  and  cars,' there  is  always 
a  large  amount  of  organic  matter  present.  It  is  evident,  therefore, 
that  because  of  the  enormous  diminution  in  germicidal  value  on 
addition  of  organic  matter  as  well  as  because  of  the  injurious  effects 
on  metals  and  fabrics  the  chlorine  disinfectants  as  a  class  do  not 
seem  to  be  suited  for  use  under  the  usual  conditions  and  by  the 
usual  methods  of  general  disinfection.  That  is  not  to  say,  how- 
ever, that  when  properly  used  they  are  not  efficient  and  valuable 
in  the  treatment  of  infected  wounds ;  in  fact,  the  evidence  available 
goes  to  show  that  they  are  of  great  value  when  so  used ;  and,  of 
course,  chlorine  and  hypochlorites  are  very  widely  and  successfully 
used  for  the  disinfection  of  drinking  water.  Compared  on  a  basis 
of  weight  of  Chloramin  T  as  against  weight  of  chlorine  as  sodium 
hypochlorite  (Dakin's  solution)  or  hypochlorous  acid  (eusol),  or 
as  chlorine  in  aqueous  solution,  Chloramin  T  is  less  efficient  than 
the  others.  But  if  the  comparison  is  made  on  the  basis  of  avail- 
able chlorine  contained  it  is  much  more  efficient  against  Staphylo- 
coccus aureus,  much  less  efficient  against  Bacillus  pyocyaneus,  and 
approximately  equal  in  efficiency  against  B.  typhosus.  The  experi- 
ments upon  Bacillus  tuberculosis  indicate  that  the  chlorine  disin- 
fectants are  worth  very  little  so  far  as  that  organism  is  concerned. 
A  selective  action  on  the  part  of  the  various  disinfectants  was 
apparent.  The  action  of  the  chlorine  disinfectants  upon  anthrax 
spores  show  that  the  germicidal  action  is  not  always  so  speedy  as 
is  commonly  supposed,  but  may  extend  over  several  days.  The 
addition  of  ammonia  to  solutions  of  chlorine  or  hypochlorites  very 
greatly  increases  their  activity.    (/.  Agric.  Res.  20,  85-119  [1920].) 
J.  F.  C. 
