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53
DISINFECTION OF ROOMS.
harbours these organisms to a large extent. Did it settle only on
the surface of walls, floor, furniture, &c., a thorough washing with
soap and water (with some chemical added) would be sufficient to
destroy them, but as the surfaces are not always susceptible of such
treatment, and as moreover they are not smooth but generally full of
crevices, simple washing cannot always be relied upon except as an
adjunct to other methods.
Hitherto, however, most local authorities have relied upon the
gas (sulphur dioxide) produced by burning sulphur; but of recent
years many experiments have shown it scarcely deserves the confidence
which has been placed in it. During the last two years with the
assistance of your Analyst, Mr. C. H. Cribb, and of Dr. George
Newman, Demonstrator of Bacteriology in King's College, I have
conducted a considerable number of experiments with the view of
determining how far sulphur dioxide may be trusted, and having
ound the doubts which had been cast upon its use to be confirmed,
I have tested several other agents which have been recommended
and have examined by trial the different methods of employing them.
So far as sulphur dioxide is concerned, it appears to be able to
kill the diphtheria organism, and probably would be equally useful
after scarlet fever, if it is produced in proper quantities and we can
ensure that it will reach the organism in sufficient strength in every
part of the room. This, unfortunately we cannot always do, moreover
it may injuriously affect metals and coloured materials. The more
resistant organisms, such as those of Typhoid Fever, are not killed by
this gas.
As a gas seemed from its ability to penetrate into all parts to
be the most useful method of applying disinfectants, I turned my
attention to other agents which might be so used. The majority of
them, however, are more difficult to produce and no more efficient
than sulphur dioxide. My attention was then directed to formic
aldehyde, a gas discovered in 1868. Twenty years later attention
was drawn to the fact that it possessed germicidal powers, but until
last year no method had been devised whereby it might be utilised