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47
advisability of the use of Sanitas was brought before
the Works Committee, and, in accordance with the
request of the Chairman, the following report was
presented:—
To the Chairman of the Works Committee.
Sir,—Having been requested to report upon the
respective merits of "Carbolic Acid" powder, and
"Sanitas" powder, for disinfecting purposes, I have the
honour to lay before the Works Committee the following
report upon the subject:—
I have made a few notes upon disinfectants generally,
and must premise that so-called disinfectants may be
divided into three classes, many substances uniting the
properties of two, and some of even all three of the
classes.
1.—True disinfectants. These are agents capable
of destroying specific infection (e.g. that of small pox).
2.—Antiseptics. Agents capable of checking or
preventing decay.
3.—Deodorants. Agents capable of destroying or
rendering innocuous offensive vapours.
Of true disinfectants, dry heat, and weathering (or
the action of the atmosphere) are the most potent;
they are the great natural disinfectants, but we cannot
bum or leave exposed to the atmosphere every
infected article or place, so we imitate nature as
closely as possible, and what we cannot burn we
endeavour to oxydize and render innocuous.