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7
The disinfectants which arc mostly employed are Chloride of
Lune, Carbolic Acid, Chloralum, and McDougall's Powder In
cases where gases are evolved from putrefying animal matter,
volatile disinfectants are beet. The remarks made by a writer
in the ''Times last year an peculiarly appropriate. There is
no gas equal to Chlorine, there is none so cheap or thoroughly
leflective in altering the character for good of noxious gases
and none so easy of application. As long as it is in excess'
or, in other words, preponderates over the injurious hydrogen'
compounds, it can be recognized by its odour. There is only
one serious objection to Chlorine—its Smell. But if it be
properly used and not wasted, this objection will be reduced
to a minimum. Except in the ease; of Closets, (where it is best
to dust a small quantity in the pan above the reach of water,)
a solution of Chloride of Lime in the proj>ortion of lib to lOlbs
of Water is most adapted for disinfecting air:—a rag as large
as an ordinary handkerchief stceped in such a solution, wrung out
and suspended in small rooms, will sweeten the air for twentyfour
hours. The Chlorine slowly evolved acts partly in decomposing
in hurious hydrogen compounds, partly in evolving
ozone; it is therefore a grand oxydizing agent. Chloralum, the
last discovered disinfectant, cannot be substituted for Chlorine.
A fixed non-volatile substance cannot take the place as a
disinfectant of volatile substances. When we come to disinfect
decomposable matter, it is our task to prevent such matter
from decomposing, and we have generally to do with solid
bodies. Here, Carbolic Acid is the best disinfectant. The evil
of Carbolic Acid is in the deceptive character of the common
Sort. The impurities give the disagreeable and disgusting smell,
and the odours attending may give a false notion of security.
Sprinkled against bricks in a sewer, out of reach of water, all
the smell supposed to proceed from Carbolic Acid may continue
to be evolved for months, whereas nothing in the way of
disinfection is being accomplished. Lastly, Carbolic Acid is
readily diffused through air, Chloralum is not.
Professor Fkvnki.and, in his report on the analysis of the
waters supplied by the Metropolitan Water Companies, during
the several months of the year 1870, says: "During the past
fear I have investigated Clark's process for softening water by
the addition of Lime, and have inquired into the application of
this process to the water supplied to London. By an inspection
of the beautiful waterworks established by Mr. Homersham, C.E.,
at Tring and Canterbury, I have convinced myself of the perfect
feasibility of applying the method of purification to such Vast
volumes of water as those supplied to the Metropolis, and by
the use of the process for several months past in softening the
Grand Junction Company's water supplied to my own house,
I have demonstrated that this admirable method (which is now
free from all patent rights) is even more valuable when applied
to Thames water, than when used for the softening of chalk