Essays in preventive medicine : infection and disinfection : the health of children, and the period of infection in epidemic diseases / by William Squire.
- Squire, William
- Date:
- 1887
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Essays in preventive medicine : infection and disinfection : the health of children, and the period of infection in epidemic diseases / by William Squire. Source: Wellcome Collection.
22/144 (page 16)
![half and used to purify any articles tliat have been handled by the patient, or even that have been on or near tlie bed; thus used, the pink colour is lost or becomes a dull brown as long as any im])urities remain, so indicating the need of more of the disinfectant. Among the more useful disiniectants, Sanitas and Terebene yielding Hydroxyl or peroxide of hydrogen, deserve a high place ; they are deriYatives from Oil of Turpentine with which the latter is isomeric; both give off a penetrating odour, ozonising the air; they are equally serviceable mixed with water to check infectious emanations from excreta, as for sprinkling about the room, on the screens, clothes, and carpets, or for use in spray ; this latter method answers well for freshening the air of the sick room, and sometimes for its directly curative action; as is seen after the use of the Permanganate in sore throats, or of Terebene in coughs. A purer colourless form of Terebene is prepared for internal use; the crude, darker liquid is to be diluted in the same way as Condy for general purposes, or used in small quantities of full strength, where a stronger disinfectant is wanted. A Sanitas Oil is vaporized from boiling water; diluted it affords a cheap form of the oidinary liquid. As one disinfectant should serve as much as possible for all purposes the choice will often fall on Sanitas. A little of either of these weaker fluids can be used directly to the mouth or nose; any expectoration should be immersed in them. These means are to some extent required in common colds, and attacks of diarrhoea ; also in consumption, and prolonged or other chronic illness; a five per cent. Carbolic acid solution serves for phthisical sputa. Some embrocations in common use are disinfectant; such are the Camphor and Turpentine liniments of the pharmacopoeia, and the oil of amber. Benzoin used internally and the Balsam of Peru used externally have some effect .of this kind, the former yields Benzoic Acid, the latter Styrone and Kesorcin, all effective germicides. The use of Borax and the still greater potency of Boracic acid are well known. Stronger disinfectants are sometimes required for special purposes. Benzine, in the carbolic series, is effective; coal-tar naphtha, paraffin or common petroleum oil, is a handy form and can, with any tainted shreds, be completely burnt afterwards out of doors; it is equally potent in destroying the germs of virulent discharges, as against those of the grosser parasites. The Chlorinated Soda of the Pharmacopoeia is a strong disinfectant. The strongest are Chlorine and Corrosive Sublimate; the latter is now to be had in a soap, wherein there is less danger of any mistake in its use, and the efficacy is not lost. The Milton Chemical Company, of Glasgow, makes this and other disinfective soaps, such as that with Iodoform or Eucalyptus, that are preferable for some purposes to those made with carbolic acid. The stronger disinfectants are germicide, that is, they kill the germs of disease. This is done either rapidly and absolutely as by](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28717806_0022.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
