DISINFECTANTS are a class of substances which have the power of absorbing or destroying the effluvia or fetid odors evolved from putrescent matter, and the mias matic matter generated in low, marshy, and ill-drained localities. The principal sub stances capable of being•uked for this purpose are chlorine, bleaching-powder, carbolic acid, animal and wocrcharcoal, chloride of zinc, SeSqui-Chloride of iron, nitrate of lead, acetate of lead, and nitrous acid. Chlorine (q.v.), either when used by itself, or in combination with lime, as bleaching-powder, is probably the most powerful disinfecting agent. When liberated into an apartment, it immediately causes the destruction of infectious or other deleterious matters. The mode of its action appears to he principally due to the great affinity of chlorine for the hydrogen of the gaseous compounds evolved from putrefying matter, and in abstracting the hydrogen, the chlorine destroys the organic substance. A simple way of employing chlorine as a disinfecting agent in sick rooms, and adjacent lobbies and apartments, is to place a thin layer of bleaching-powder upon a plate, from which the carbonic acid of the air will liberate chlorine rapidly enough to be of essential service in keeping down infection, and without causing any inconvenience to the inmates. If a more plentiful supply of chlorine be desired, a little vinegar added to the bleaching-powder will liberate the gas freely. Charcoal is also of g-reat service in removing fetid effluvia. Clothes possessing a disagreeable odor may be
deprived of it by being rolled up or placed in a box with charcoal; and a thin layer of the latter strewn, over putrefying matter, such as the decomposing carcass of an animal, immediately absorbs the effluvia, and the air above becomes quite sweet. The charcoal acts first by absorbing the odoriferous gases, such as ammonia, hydro-sulphuric acid (sulphuretted hydrogen), etc., and thereafter aids in the oxidation of these into nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and water. As agents capable of being employed in the deodori zation and purification of offensive liquids, such as bilge-water and sewerage-water, there are chloride of zinc—Burnett's disinfecting liquid (q.v.)—chloride of manganese, perchloride of iron (Ellerman's deodorizing fluid), and nitrate of lead (Ledoyen's dis infecting fluid); but these liquids are not true disinfectants, and are merely serviceable in deodorizing by fixation. The employment of fumigating pastilles, burning brown paper, and fumigations with camphor, benzoin, mastic, amber, lavender, and other odoriferous substances, is merely serviceable in cloaking over the offensive, fetid, and hurtful gases, and should never be resorted to unless in conjunction with the use of other agents possessing the properties of true disinfectants. See CARBOLIC Acm; and, for Condy's fluid, the article MANGANESE.