Formaldehyde gas kills all forms of microörganisms almost instantly but is not particularly destructive to higher form of life. It produces a marked irritation in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract which may result in death to animals exposed to the gas for any length of time. It is not considered an insecticide.
In fumigating a room with formaldehyde great care must be exercised that the individual does not remain in the room after the gas begins to be liberated. After the process of fumigation has been completed the windows and doors should all be opened that the gas may escape. It is always best to have the doors and windows open from the outside so that it will not be necessary for any one to go into the room until the gas has blown out.
AGENTS OF DISINFECTION
Physical Agents
The physical agents of disinfection are sunlight, electricity, pressure, dry heat, burning, boiling, and steam.
Chemical Agents
Chemical agents of disinfection are divided into two divisions—gaseous and liquid disinfectants. The gaseous disinfectants are: formaldehyde gas, sulphur dioxide gas, hydrocyanic acid gas, chlorin, oxygen, and oxone.
Some of the most important liquid disinfectants are metallic salts, bichloride of mercury, silver and zinc salts, coal-tar creosote, carbolic acid, phenol, lysol, creolin and formalin.