A dry heat of 200° to 400° F., The strong undiluted acids and alkalies.
9. Agents which act in many ways, partly by condensing gases, partly by absorbing moisture, and partly by a peculiar action on organic matter analogous to tannin:
Dry earths, Clays, The natural and artificial compounds of aluminium.
The table on the next page is a summary by the late Dr Letheby of some experiments made by Drs Dougall and Calvert, with the view of determining the relative powers possessed by certain substances of arresting putrefaction, as measured by their action in preventing the germination of animalcules and fungi, and the development of vaccine lymph.[258]
[258] ‘On the Relative Power of various Substances in Preventing the Germination of Animalculæ,’ by John Dougall, 1871. Calvert, ‘Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ vol. xx, p. 185.
Disinfecting Compounds. 1. (Sir Wm. Burnett’s Disinfecting Liquid.) A concentrated solution of chloride of zinc. See Zinc.
2. (Collins’ Disinfecting Powder.) A mixture of dry chloride of lime, 2 parts, and burnt alum, 1 part. Used either dry or moistened with water. See Lime.
3. (Condy’s Disinfecting Fluids.) Solutions of the alkaline manganates and permanganates. Although this is an excellent and rapid deodoriser, and makes a most serviceable dressing for fetid sores, it must be borne in mind that it is in no sense an aërial disinfectant, its action being limited to the solid or liquid matters only with which it is brought into immediate contact. It exercises no corrosive action, but it is open to the objection that it leaves a brown stain upon linen. See Manganese.
4. (Ellerman’s Deodorising Fluid.) This is said to consist chiefly of the perchlorides and chlorides of iron and manganese.
“In a report addressed to the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1859, Drs Hoffmann and Frankland stated that the perchloride of iron was the cheapest and most efficient deodoriser that could be applied to sewage.” (Beasley.)