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oxydi/.ing agents, such as the permanganates, tereheres, and
other compounds which give off oxygen or peroxide of hydrogen.
Condy's fluid, sanitas, euchlorine, or thymol may be used for
this purpose, and may be employed whilst the patient is in the
room, great care being used with euchlorine that too much gas
be not given off by the mixture of both sorts. These act as
before stated by oxydizing decomposing organic matters in the
air, by reducing them to harmless compounds, and thus removing
what might otherwise afford a pabulum for the increase of
infective matter.
There are, however, other diseases during the progress of
which the water-closets and drains should he regularly disinfected,
chiefly small-pox, scarlet fever, typhoid and typhus
fevers, as well as all discharges coming from the patient.
Burnett's fluid, sporokton, strong solutions of sulphate of iron
or zinc, or of carbolic acid (1 to 50) may be selected for this
purpose; but if put into the vessel before use, they must be
sufficiently diluted not to injure the patient by splashing.
The number of articles and of rooms disinfected during the
year was not so large as for some preceding years, in consequence
of the great reduction in the number of small-pox cases,
and to a less extent of most other infectious diseases, except
whooping cough and measles, for which disinfection is not
ordinarily employed.
The disinfecting chamber has been used to a considerable
extent, as 95 beds, 111 mattresses and palliasses, 255 bolsters
and pillows, 357 blankets, sheets, and quilts, as well as 472
ether articles, were disinfected at the Board's apparatus during
the year. The cost of disinfecting the houses, clothing, &c.,
was as follows:—Wages, £56; coal and coke, £5 7s. 9d.; petty
expenses, £5 6s. 1d.; and about £9 for disinfectants supplied to
the poor for washing floors, linen, &c., and for pouring down
drains and water-closets, and disinfecting the discharges of the
few patients who were treated at home. Against this amount