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Infection and Disinfection: Standard

Chloride of lime in dry form may also be applied in large quantities to vaults and cess-pools. Dilute it for this purpose with 9 parts of plaster of Paris or the same proportion of clean dry sand to admit of more convenient application. No. 2. Standard Solution Milk of Lime (quick a quart of freshly-burnt lime (in small pieces) with of a quart of water or to be exact, 60 parts of water (by weight) with 100 of lime. A dry product of slaked lime (hydrate of lime) results.

INFECTION AND DISINFECTION Make from this, milk of lime, immediately before it is to be used, by mixing 1 part of this dry hydrate of lime with 8 parts (by weight) of water. The dry hydrate may be preserved for some time if enclosed in a covered fruit jar or other air-tight container.

Or, prepare milk of lime by slaking freshly burnt quick lime in about four times its volume of water, i. e., about 1 pound of fresh unslaked lime to 1 gallon of water. Milk of lime must be used within a day or two after preparation or its value as a disinfectant is lost. It should be kept in some air-tight container, preferably an earthenware jug and closely stoppered. Air-slaked lime has no value as a disinfectant and should not be used for this purpose.

Quick lime is one of the cheapest of disinfectants, and may take the place of chloride of lime if desired.

Use freely in a quantity equal in amount to the material to be disinfected. Use also to whitewash exposed surfaces, to disinfect excreta in the sick room, or on the surface of the ground, in sinks, vaults, drains, stagnant pools and the like.

No. 3. Standard Solution of Bichloride of Mercury (corrosive sublimate). The most convenient way to prepare this solution is by the use of bichloride of mercury tablets which can be obtained at any drug store. The directions for using these tablets are given on the package.

But if large quantities of bichloride solutions are to be used, it will be found cheaper to have a strong solution prepared by a druggist and then add at home, under his direction, sufficient water to reduce it to the required strength. Two tablets dissolved in 1 pint of water, or sixteen tablets (2 drams) corrosive sublimate to the gallon, makes a solution of 1 to 500. This may be improved by adding 2 ounces of common salt to the gallon of water.

Or, dissolve corrosive sublimate and muriate of ammonia in water in the proportion of 2 drams, 120 grains or ounce of each to the gallon.

Or, dissolve corrosive sublimate and permanganate of potash, 2 drams each to 1 gallon of water.

Or, dissolve corrosive sublimate, permanganate of potash and muriate of ammonia in pure soft water in the proportion of 2 drams each to the gallon.

All the above substances may be obtained at any first-class drug store.

The simple solution of bichloride in water first mentioned is a good disinfectant and may be preferred whenever it is necessary to practice economy. But, if the additional cost of such substances as muriate of ammonia (sal ammoniac) and permanganate of potash can be afforded, the solution will be more efficient and will keep better. If permanganate of potash is not used, it is a good plan to add a little blue vitriol or common bluing to color the solution. This lessens the danger of its being swallowed by accident.

Cautions. All the above solutions or others containing bichloride of mercury (corrosive sublimate) will corrode metals and even tarnish gold.

In so doing their disinfecting power is lost. Hence, these solutions must be mixed in a wooden tub, barrel or pail, or an earthen crock. They must be kept in a glass or earthenware receptacle-as a glass fruit jar or earthenware jug-tightly stoppered to prevent evaporation, and labeled "Poison". They should never be poured into metal drains without thorough and repeated flushing. Otherwise they will injure plumbing. Nor should they be permitted to come into contact with the metal fixtures of the bath room. The better plan is to bury them, after using, at least one foot deep in the ground.

Rings must be removed from the hands before they are immersed in the bichloride solutions.

Use any of the above solutions full strength (1:500) to disinfect excreta in the same manner and quantity as the Chloride of Lime Solution No. 1. They are equally as effective but slower in action. Hence it is necessary to let the mixture, disinfectant and infected matter, stand at least four hours. It is best to empty the mixture into a wooden pail and leave it for twenty-four hours. It may then be thrown into a vault or buried. The chief advantage of these solutions over No. 1 is that they possess no odor. Hence they may be preferred for use in vessels, cuspidors and the like, if Solution No. 1 is objectionable on account of its smell.

They are not as good disinfectants for vaults, sink drains, sewers and the like as the chloride of lime solution, nor are they trustworthy as a disinfectant of fresh sputum.

Also use any of these solutions one-half strength, that is, diluted with an equal quantity of water (1:1,000), for the disinfection of soiled underclothing, bed linen and other fabrics. Mix the solution well by stirring and immerse the articles for two hours. Then wring them out and boil at least half an hour. Bichloride solutions tend to fix stains. Hence remove stains by appropriate process before disinfection.

Also use one-half strength (1: 1,000) of any of these solutions for washing all hard surfaces not metallic, as walls, floors, furniture and the like, and for moistening cloths with which to wipe off dust from the woodwork and furniture. For washing metallic surfaces use disinfectant No. 5, 2 per cent solution of formaldehyde.

Also use this solution one-half strength (1:1,000) for washing the hands and general body surfaces of the attendants and convalescentsthe latter, however, only by direction of the physician.

Bichloride of mercury, either in solid form or in mixtures is a violent corrosive poison. One ounce of any of the above solutions, full strength, contains nearly a grain of corrosive sublimate and will quickly cause death by poison if swallowed.

Hence all these solutions must be labeled "Poison" and kept out of reach of children. Their use should always be under the direction of some intelligent person.

Antidote. If by accident one of these solutions is swallowed, send for a physician at once. Do not wait, however, until he arrives. Give the proper antidote quickly. Give freely white of egg mixed with water, or if this is not at hand, give wheat flour mixed with water, or give milk. Try to provoke vomiting so as to empty the stomach. For this purpose give mustard and water, or salt and water, or tickle the back of the throat.