202  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy.  {AmAJS,ri1^rm" 
Prof.  Henry  Kraemer  gave  a  talk  and  demonstration  on  methods 
of  disinfection  and  the  technic  employed  in  the  examination  of 
sputum  for  tubercle  bacilli.  Professor  Kraemer  first  called  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  the  work  of  disinfection  alone  in  infectious 
diseases  is,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Lawrence  F.  Flick,  a  very  extensive 
project,  and  he  said  that  druggists  are  not  only  asked  to  co-operate 
with  boards  of  health  and  physicians  in  private  practice  in  carrying 
out  this  work,  but  that  their  training  and  knowledge  of  chemistry 
especially  qualify  them  to  do  so.  He  stated  that  there  are  four 
degrees  of  temperature  which  are  to  be  considered  in  relation  to 
micro-organisms,  namely,  (i)  a  zero  temperature,  at  which  the 
organisms  are  inactive;  (2)  a  temperature  of  250— 40 0  C,  at  which 
they  manifest  growth  or  activity;  (3)  a  temperature  of  8o°-ioo°  C, 
at  which  the  organisms  are  killed;  and  (4)  a  temperature  of 
iio°-I20°  C.  which  is  required  to  kill  the  spores;  and  that  there 
are  likewise  four  degrees  of  concentration  of  chemicals  which  should 
be  borne  in  mind  in  practical  work:  (1)  very  weak  solutions,  which 
do  not  affect  the  organisms;  (2)  slightly  stronger  solutions,  which 
stimulate  growth;  (3)  solutions  which  kill  the  organisms  but  do 
not  affect  the  spores ;  and  (4)  still  stronger  solutions  which  kill  the 
spores.  The  last  degree  of  concentration  of  a  chemical  mentioned, 
as  well  as  a  temperature  of  no°-i20°  C,  is  classed  as  a  germicide, 
while  a  temperature  of  8o°-ioo°  C.  and  a  concentration  of  a 
chemical  solution  sufficient  to  kill  the  organisms  only  are  classed  as 
antiseptics.  For  this  reason,  it  was  pointed  out  that  all  work  of 
disinfection  by  means  of  chemicals,  whether  of  rooms  and  dwellings, 
clothing  and  other  articles,  or  of  excreta,  should  be  carried  out 
quantitatively,  and  that  it  should  be  carried  on  by  those  having  a 
knowledge  of  the  subject,  there  being  not  only  a  difference  in  the 
toxic  power  of  different  chemicals,  but  also  a  marked  difference  in 
the  degree  of  resistance  of  different  micro-organisms.  In  speaking 
of  the  disinfection  of  rooms  and  dwellings  the  use  of  formaldehyde 
was  recommended,  and  the  method  of  generating  the  gas  from 
formaldehyde  solution  and  potassium  permanganate  demonstrated. 
The  necessity  of  having  a  moist  atmosphere  during  the  generation 
of  the  gases  in  disinfection  was  emphasized,  and  the  statement 
made  that  it  is  usually  necessary  to  make  special  provision  for  insur- 
ing the  necessary  degree  of  humidity,  which  should  be  near  the 
point  of  saturation. 
After  describing  the  tubercle  bacillus  and  giving  the  methods  for 
