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43
plant which produced them. It is thus that the
germ-poisons of diseases are much more active and
destructive than other kinds of poison.
Another peculiarity of these germ-poisons is that
their life may be destroyed by certain external
agents. Thus it has been found that a certain
amount of heat will destroy the life of these poisons.
It has been found that the exposing the germs
of Scarlet Fever, Small Pox, and other contagious
diseases to the temperature of boiling water (212
degrees Fahrenheit), will destroy the poison of these
diseases. It is true that recently some doubt has
been thrown on this statement, but at auy rate the
cases are so exceptional where there has been any
reason to doubt the disinfecting effects of boiling
water, that there could be no excuse on that ground
for refusing to subject all infected linen to a
temperature of 212 degrees. In the Parish of
Saint James's, Westminster, and in many large
towns in England, disinfecting apparatus have been
erected, where a temperature much higher than that
of boiling water can be secured. It should, however,
be remembered that for all temperatures below that
of 212 degrees there should be an expectation of
the non-destruction of the poison in proportion to
the lowness of the temperature to which the clothing
and furniture employed in such chambers may
have been submitted.
Germ-poisons may be also destroyed by being
brought into contact with certain substances which
destroy their life and activity at ordinary