Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 179

1. The chlorides of different metals, earths, or bases:

Chlorides of the alkalies, Chlorides of iron, Chlorides of copper, Chlorides of manganese, Chlorides of zinc, Chlorides of aluminium, Chlorides of lime, Chlorides of mercury, and, in fact, all chlorides which are soluble.

2. All soluble sulphates, especially sulphates of iron and aluminium.

3. All soluble sulphites.

4. Some acetates, as acetate of iron.

5. Some nitrates, such as the nitrates of potash and soda.

6. Certain agents which appear to arrest putrefaction or condense certain gases, &c., without either destruction or oxidation:

Carbolic acid, Tar acids, Charcoal, Great cold, Heat sufficient to dry organic substances, but not to char them.

7. Preservative liquids and solutions. Many of these act by coagulating the alb.u.men of organised bodies:

Antiseptics, Alcohol, Solutions of corrosive sublimate, Solutions of common salt, Solutions of saltpetre.

8. Destructive agents. Not true disinfectants, they act not by disinfection, but by destruction:

A dry heat of 200 to 400 F., The strong undiluted acids and alkalies.

9. Agents which act in many ways, partly by condensing gases, partly by absorbing moisture, and partly by a peculiar action on organic matter a.n.a.logous to tannin:

Dry earths, Clays, The natural and artificial compounds of aluminium.

The table on the next page is a summary by the late Dr Letheby of some experiments made by Drs Dougall and Calvert, with the view of determining the relative powers possessed by certain substances of arresting putrefaction, as measured by their action in preventing the germination of animalcules and fungi, and the development of vaccine lymph.[258]

[Footnote 258: 'On the Relative Power of various Substances in Preventing the Germination of Animalculae,' by John Dougall, 1871. Calvert, 'Proceedings of the Royal Society,' vol. xx, p. 185.]

=Disinfecting Compounds.= 1. (Sir WM. BURNETT'S DISINFECTING LIQUID.) A concentrated solution of chloride of zinc. See ZINC.

2. (COLLINS' DISINFECTING POWDER.) A mixture of dry chloride of lime, 2 parts, and burnt alum, 1 part. Used either dry or moistened with water.

See LIME.

3. (CONDY'S DISINFECTING FLUIDS.) Solutions of the alkaline manganates and permanganates. Although this is an excellent and rapid deodoriser, and makes a most serviceable dressing for fetid sores, it must be borne in mind that it is in no sense an aerial disinfectant, its action being limited to the solid or liquid matters only with which it is brought into immediate contact. It exercises no corrosive action, but it is open to the objection that it leaves a brown stain upon linen. See MANGANESE.

4. (ELLERMAN'S DEODORISING FLUID.) This is said to consist chiefly of the perchlorides and chlorides of iron and manganese.

"In a report addressed to the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1859, Drs Hoffmann and Frankland stated that the perchloride of iron was the cheapest and most efficient deodoriser that could be applied to sewage."

(Beasley.)

5. (LABARRAQUE'S DISINFECTING SOLUTION; LIQUOR SODae CHLORINATae, Ph. L. & D.) A solution of chlorinated soda, or, as it is commonly called, 'chloride of soda.' M. Labarraque made known this valuable disinfectant in 1822, and obtained the prize of the French 'Society for Encouraging National Industry' for its introduction.

6. (LEDOYEN'S DISINFECTING FLUID.) A solution of nitrate of lead, 1 part, in about 8 parts of water; or, of litharge, 13-1/2 oz., in nitric acid (sp. gr. 138), 12 oz., previously diluted with water, 6 pints. Sp. gr.

140.

7. (SIRET'S DISINFECTING COMPOUNDS.)--_a._ A mixture of sulphate of lime, 53 lbs., sulphate of iron, 40 lbs., sulphate of zinc, 7 lbs., and peat charcoal, 2 lbs., made into b.a.l.l.s.

_b._ Sulphate of iron, 20 parts; sulphate of zinc, 10 parts; tan or waste oak-bark (in powder), 4 parts; tar and oil, of each 1 part; as before.

Used for deodorising cesspools, &c.

8. (BISULPHIDE OF CARBON.) This generates, when burnt, sulphurous acid, and is, therefore, a very valuable disinfectant. Its highly inflammable nature, however, renders the adoption of certain precautions necessary in its use. A method of employing it in the form of fumigation will be found under the article "Fumigation."

9. Dry salicylic acid volatilised from a hot plate purifies the air, and perfectly disinfects the walls of a closed room. (VON HEYDEN.)

10. "SANITAS" is the name given by Mr Kingzett, its discoverer, to a new liquid antiseptic and disinfectant, containing peroxide of hydrogen and camphoric acid, and obtained by the atmospheric oxidation of turpentine.

Sanitas is said by its inventor to possess the great advantages of being non-poisonous, and to exercise no injurious effects either on clothing or furniture. It is stated that its antiseptic power is distributed between the peroxide of hydrogen and camphoric acid, the peroxide of hydrogen being able to evolve large quant.i.ties of oxygen, which in this state is nascent, and of a powerful and oxidising character.

11. COOPER'S UNIVERSAL DISINFECTING POWDER. According to Professor w.a.n.klyn this powder contains 70 per cent. of mixed chloride of sodium and chloride of calcium, and about 6 per cent. of anhydrous sulphate of zinc (equal to about 12 per cent. of hydrated sulphate), a little insoluble matter, and 15 per cent. of moisture.

12. DR BOND'S CUPRALUM AND FERRALUM. The first of these disinfectants is stated to be a mixture of the sulphates of copper and aluminium, with pota.s.sic dichromate and turpentine. Its inventor claims for it that it possesses great power of coagulating alb.u.men and high value both as an antiseptic and deodorant. FERRALUM is a mixture of ferrous and aluminic sulphates, turpentine, and carbolic acid. Its chief use is for flus.h.i.+ng sewers and in deodorising cesspools, urinals, &c.

13. BAYARD'S DISINFECTANT. A mixture of sulphate of iron, clay, lime, and coal tar.

_Summary of the Experiments made by_ DR J. DOUGALL, _and by_ DR CRACE CALVERT, _on the action of various Antiseptics on Protoplasmic and Fungus Life, and on Vaccine Lymph._

KEY: A - Quant.i.ty required to prevent Animalcules in six days.

B - Number of Days before Life appeared in a solution containing 1 of substance in 500 water and 1/2 drachm of following-- C - Number of Days before Vibrio Life appeared in a solution of Alb.u.men containing 1 of substance in 1000 of solution.

D - Beef Juice.

E - Sol. of Egg Alb.u.men.

F - Reaction of the Solution.

G - Infusion of Hay.

H - Human Urine.

I - Beef Juice and Egg Alb.u.men.

J - Average of all.

K - Effect on Animalcules in Putrid Beef Juice and Egg Alb.u.men, when added in proportion in third column.

L - Animalcules.

M - Fungi.

N - Animalcules.

O - Fungi.

P - Effect of the Vapour or Gas during 24 hrs. on Vaccine Lymph.

Q - Animalcules.

R - Putrid Odour.

S - Fungi.

T - Mouldy Odour.

-------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------- EXPERIMENTS BY DR CRACE EXPERIMENTS MADE BY DR JOHN DOUGALL, OF GLASGOW. CALVERT.

+--------+-------------------+------+-----------------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- A B C ----+----+----+----+ +-----------------+--------+--------+ -------+-------+-------+------- D E --------+--------+--------+--------+ Substances used. F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T -------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- 1 in 1 in 1 in 1 in Acids. Mineral. Sulphurous Acid. 250 50 50 117 Death. 24 4 P. 8 Over 100 Killed. 11 Over 40 21 Over 40 Nitric " 400 400 200 333 " 18 4 P. 15 5 T. " 10 50 10 23 Hydrochloric " 500 400 100 333 " 28 4 P. 9 Over 100 " -- -- -- -- Sulphuric " 800 500 100 467 " Over 100 Over 100 30 10 T. -- 9 -- 9 11 Chromic " 4000 1400 1200 2200 -- 78 38 P. Over 100 Over 100 -- -- -- -- -- Organic. Carbolic Neutral. 300 300 200 267 None. 12 50 T. 38 36 P. None. Over 40 Over 40 Over 40 Over 40 Cresylic " -- -- -- -- " -- -- -- -- " " " " "

Acetic Acid. 350 25 10 125 -- -- -- -- -- Killed. 30 -- 9 50 Picric " 350 350 350 350 Death. 44 11 P. Over 100 44 P. -- 17 Over 40 19 Over 40 Benzoic " 700 700 200 533 " Over 100 Over 100 " Over 100 -- -- -- -- -- -------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- Alkalies. Lime Alk. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 13 19 Over 40 Over 40 Potash " 300 50 10 120 Death. -- -- -- -- -- 16 -- -- -- Soda " -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 23 31 18 29 Ammonia " -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 24 50 20 Over 40 -------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- Haloids. Iodine tincture Neutral. 400 400 50 283 Death. 1 80 T. 15 Over 100 -- -- -- -- -- Chlorine gas Acid. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Killed. 7 21 21 -- Chloride lime Alk. 200 200 25 142 Death. 27 27 T. 40 Over 100 " 7 18 16 -- Chloride zinc Acid. 300 300 300 300 " 4 Over 100 18 " -- Over 40 Over 40 50 Over 40 Chloride aluminum " 2000 500 300 933 -- 19 4 P. Over 100 8 P. -- 10 " 21 50 -------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- Sulphates, &c. Bisulphite lime Acid. 100 50 25 58 Death. 4 92 T. 9 Over 100 -- 11 21 14 Over 40 Sulphate zinc " 300 300 200 267 " 30 4 P. 90 70 P. -- -- -- -- -- Sulphate iron " 500 500 100 367 ? 14 5 T. 35 40 T. -- 7 Over 40 15 -- Common alum " 800 500 100 467 -- 14 3 P. 38 15 T. -- -- -- -- -- Sulphate copper " 1000 1000 800 933 Death. 86 20 P. Over 100 Over 100 -- -- -- -- -- -------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------- Permanganate potash Neutral. 500 200 125 275 None. -- -- -- -- -- 9 50 22 Over 40 Alcohol " 350 50 20 140 Death. 4 4 T. 10 Over 100 -- -- -- -- -- Camphor " 300 150 50 167 None. -- -- -- -- None. -- -- -- -- Turpentine " -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 14 Over 40 42 Over 40 -------------------+--------+----+----+----+----+------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------

Note.--In the _first_ set of Dr John Dougall's experiments 3 drachms of a solution of the strength mentioned were treated with 1 drachm of a filtered infusion of hay, or with half a drachm of urine or half a drachm of the mixture of beef juice and egg-alb.u.men. In the _second_ set of experiments equal parts of a putrid solution of beef juice and egg-alb.u.men, full of living animalcules, and of the solution of the various substances of the strength known to be preventive of life (as in third column), were mixed together, and the results immediately noted. In the _third_ set of experiments 3-1/2 drachms of distilled water, containing 1 in 500 of the substances named, were treated with half a drachm of filtered beef juice, or half a drachm of a solution consisting of 1 part white of egg to 4 parts water. In the _last_ set of experiments, separate minims of vaccine lymph were exposed to the several vapours for 24 hours, and the dried spot in each case was moistened with glycerin and water, and sealed in a capillary tube until an opportunity for vaccination occurred, when the whole of the diluted lymph was used in one insertion so as to ensure its full effect.

In Dr Crace Calvert's experiments, 0026 of a gramme of the substance was added to 26 grammes (1 to 1000) of a solution of alb.u.men containing 1 part white of egg to 4 parts _pure_ distilled water.

The Animalcules observed were Monads (microphymes), Vibrios, and their cell segments (microerphymes), Bacteria (microzymes), Amba, &c.; and the Fungi were Torula, Mycelium, Penicilium, &c., indicated in Table by letters T and P. Putrefaction was always characterised by a putrid odour, an alkaline reaction, and the presence of animalcules; whereas Mouldiness and Fermentation were distinguished by a mouldy or musty odour, an acid reaction, and the presence of Fungi.