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that can be immediately washed out in a strong solution of soap and soda.

If it should be desirable to destroy certain articles and their infection together, without fire, then saturate them with the acid, or use it diluted in ten to thirty times its own quantity of water. The disinfecting and antiseptic power of good carbolic acid is so great that one part of it to one hundred parts of water is sufficient for ordinary disinfecting solutions. For ordinary purposes in disinfecting clothing, the zinc solution is preferable to that of carbolic acid.

For drains, sewers, foul heaps, stables, necessaries, and cesspools, the cheap "dead oil" of coal tar, or the crude carbolic acid, answers every purpose when freely applied. Coal-tar itself is available as a disinfectant or antiseptic paint for the walls of stables, necessary-vaults, and drains. By mixing with sawdust or dry lime, coal-tar or crude carbolic acid may be used on foul grounds or heaps of refuse.

The carbolic and cresylic "acids" are derived from coal-tar. Chemically considered, they are alcohols, and not acids. In market they are called by the first name -carbolic acid-and are frequently much adulterated or very impure in consequence of the naphthaline and tarry matters that dissolve in this kind of alcohol. The impurities do not dissolve in water. Coal-tar and the "dead oil" of coal tar derive their disinfecting power from the "carbolic acid," of which the tar contains two or three per cent., and the dead oil contains five to twelve per cent. The impurities and adulterations of the crude. "acids" make it desirable for sanitary officers to know the percentage of crystallizable acid in the carbolic fluids or disinfecting powder they use. Crude carbolic acid, containing fifty per cent. its weight crystallizable, is not

expensive, and is a good disinfectant for grounds, drains, or the air of a foul place in which cholera or any pestilential disease exists. Dilute or thoroughly agitate the acid in forty to one hundred parts water, and completely saturate the grounds, the surfaces, and foul things in the infected neighborhood. Streets, court-yards, drains, and sewers may be quickly and effectually disinfected in this manner. The sprinkling of streets and gutters with a cheap solution of the acid has proved very useful in damp, hot weather. Add sulphate of iron whenever it is practicable.

8. Other Disinfectants, such as the solutions of Sesquichloride of Iron, or of Chloride of Zinc, are effectual in necessaries and drains, and upon foul surfaces and offensive materials. These metallic chlorides, combined with a twentieth part of carbolic acid, are most valuable disinfectants. A solution of Iodine, gr. ij, and Iodide of Potassium, gr. xx, in f3iv of water, kept in an open vessel at a high temperature, has been employed as a disinfectant in scarlatina. Carbolates of lime and carbolic powders do not contain sufficient carbolic acid to render them important.

9. Boiling or High-steam Heat.-Whenever foul clothing and infected things can be boiled, or have a boiling heat steadily applied and kept up for an hour, this is one of the simplest and best modes of disinfection. But, until such high heat is actually applied to the infected things, some one of the disinfecting solutions must be used. A common steam tub (in a laundry, or elsewhere), with a tight cover, is a good disinfecting vat; but the temperature must be kept boiling-point.

Places that must be Disinfected, and how to Disinfect them.

Water-closets, necessaries, close-stools, bed-pans, etc.-For general disinfection use either of the substances, 4 or 7, as described in the numbered sections of the foregoing directions.

Cellars, vaults, stables, or any damp or offensive places.— Use 1, 2, 3, 4, or 7, in any manner suited to the objects to be attained, as described in these directions.

Sick-rooms, bedrooms, and closets.-Ventilate and keep clean, and use substances described in sections 1, 2, or 3, according to directions.

To disinfect water-closets, necessaries, waste-pipes, and all kinds of drains and foul places in houses, stables, and yards, and especially in any drain or sewer that is liable to become offensive, use a strong solution of copperas (sulphate of iron) alone-in the proportion of two or three pounds to a gallon of water-or combined with carbolic acid. This solution may be made by mixing eight pounds of dry copperas and a pint of fluid carbolic acid in five gallons of water, and stirring the mixture briskly.

To keep necessaries and water-closets from becoming infected or offensive, pour a pint of this solution into every watercloset, pan, or necessary-seat morning and evening, or a solution of chloride of iron, one pound to a gallon of water, adding one or two ounces of carbolic acid. Garbage and garbage-tubs should be daily disinfected with this fluid.

Public urinals should be kept clean with a constant current of water; chloride of lime may be sprinkled on the pavement near by, the chlorine of which decomposes the ammonia of the urine as formed. Where disinfectant irrigation is necessary, a sprinkling mixture. employed for disinfecting streets and gutters will be efficient, the proportions of which are as follows: 40 gallons of the ferrous chlorate liquor (formed by the action of

muriatic acid and iron on tin clippings), 4 gallons of impure carbolic acid, 83 per cent. strength, to 300 gallons of water.

To disinfect masses of filth in necessaries, sewers, or drains, gradually pour in the solution, hour by hour, until every part of the mass or foul surface has been thoroughly disinfected. To every cubic foot of filth give a pint or more of this strong solution. To every necessary and watercloset allow at the rate of one pint of this solution, to be poured daily, at evening, for every four persons that use the same. This practice to be kept up while the hot

weather lasts.

If these rules be made general in all private dwellings, not only will the house-drains of such dwellings be disinfected, but the benefit will extend even to the public

sewers.

The seats and floors of all water-closets in private houses, at ferry-houses, at hotels and lodging houses, on steamboats, and rail-cars, should be frequently washed with a solution of one ounce of carbolic acid in each gallon of water.

To disinfect dwellings, hospital wards, prisons, or any locality infected with contagious germs, metallic salts are of little benefit. Charcoal absorbs but a small portion of the mephitic gas; indeed, in such cases, the object is not so much to destroy the odors of decomposition as the infected germs, and so prevent further propagation. Fumigations of chlorine, sulphurous acid, and the vapors or spray of carbolic acid are particularly beneficial, and cannot well be replaced by any other agent. The fumigations should be practised until all animal odor disappears.1

To disinfect sewers, stables, gutters, foul ditches, filthy ground, slimy surfaces of drying ponds, etc., or other place

Dr. S. O. Vander Poel, Trans. of State Med. Soc. of N. Y., 1875, 235.

where there are great surfaces or masses of putrid matter; use the "heavy oil of coal-tar," or some one of the strongest disinfecting powders that are made from coaltar. Heavy oil, or coal-tar, used with copperas, or used alone, is the most effectual and the cheapest disinfectant for this class of nuisances. The inside walls of foul stables, vaults, cellars, open gutters, and all such places, can be quickly and permanently disinfected by occasionally laying upon these surfaces a coating of the "heavy oil," or of the crude coal-tar.

Sewers and all foul drains can be kept perfectly disinfected by pouring into them, at as many places as possible, a small quantity of the "heavy oil," or a quantity of the strongest solution of sulphate or sesquichloride of iron mixed with a twentieth part as much crude carbolic acid, and well stirred together.

Wherever it is proper to use a powder that does not dissolve, as upon filthy heaps, and in larger drains or cesspools, stables, cellars, and the like, carbolic acid or coal-tar powders are effectual. And for use in a larger way, upon filthy masses, and drying, stagnant or foul pools, a powerful disinfectant may be made by mixing one part (by measure) of "heavy oil" with five parts of quicklime and ten parts of sawdust, to use by covering the foul places with this mixture.

To disinfect a necessary or a quantity of earth that is contaminated with Cholera-excrement, or liable to be infected.— Use the mixed carbolic and copperas solution, saturated strength, as follows: To every cubic foot of soil or filth give two or three pints of the strong solution. To every necessary and water-closet allowed at the rate of one pint of this solution, to be poured in daily, at evening, for every four persons on the premises; this practice to be kept up while cholera is in the district or country.

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