London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

London County Council 1900

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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12
on all materials of all microbes, inclusive of tubercle, except tbe resisting spores of anthrax. With
the latter the result of disinfection was entirely negative, notwithstanding that they were practically
soaked in the acid for 24 hours. It is, on the other hand, interesting to find that the tubercular
sputum was completely disinfected, all the animals remaining well, whereas a control guinea
pig injected with a control sputum paper succumbed in six weeks from typical local and
visceral tuberculosis.
Series II.—Condv's fluid.

Table: This was used in the proportion of one teaspoonful to one imperial pint of water; this would correspond to about 1 in 142. Time of exposure, 24 hours (see footnote).Table XVIII.

This was used in the proportion of one teaspoonful to one imperial pint of water; this would correspond to about 1 in 142. Time of exposure, 24 hours (see footnote).

Table XVIII.

Nature of the microbe.Nature of material.Result of culture and experiment after exposure.
Bacillus typhosusOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Bacillus pyocyaneusOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Vibrio choleræOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Staphylococcus aureusOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Spores of anthraxOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Tubercular sputumOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+

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From this experiment it follows that the use of Condy's fluid, in the proportion stated, is
of negative value, since steeping the materials for 24 hours in the solution failed to devitalise' any
of the non-sporing microbes on any of the materials.
On account of this unfavourable result, we have repeated the experiment, using, however,
the solution five times as strong.
Table XVIIIa gives the results obtained.

Table: Table XVIIIa .—Condy's fluid,5teaspoonfuls to one pint of water; time of exposure24hours.

Table XVIIIa .—Condy's fluid,5teaspoonfuls to one pint of water; time of exposure24hours.

Nature of the microbe.Nature of material.Result of culture and experiment after exposure.
Bacillus typhosusOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Bacillus pyocyaneusOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Vibrio choleræOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen-
„On paper+
Staphylococcus aureusOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen-
„On paper+
Spores of anthraxOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen+
„On paper+
Tubercular sputumOn wood+
„On cloth+
„On linen—
„On paper+

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Note.—The spores of anthrax were, as a matter of fact, exposed to the disinfectant for three times 24 hours.