Chapter 63
Disinfectants. The reader is warned against placing reliance upon any disinfectant because it smells of carboic acid or has any other strong odor. Many of the advertised disinfectants are worthless and some of them are merely deodorizers which destroy smell and don't disinfect. Sulfur or brimstone is probably the best fumigator. Sulfite of iron, coperas, is cheap and should be used for sewers and drains. Dissolve a pound and a half in a
gallon of water. Two piles of sulfate of zinc to one part of common salt dissolved in a gallon of water is a good disinfectant for clothing, bed linen, etc. Carbolic acid is an excellent disinfectant but is efficacious only when used at considerable strength, 3-5%. Its strong odor suggests qualities which do not exist if it is much diluted. There are many disinfectants upon the market, many of them being advertised to be efficacious. Some of them are thoroughly
reliable but others are almost worthless. I would advise the reader not to purchase or use a disinfectant which is not recommended by a reliable physician. Disinfecting cellars, yards, cesspools, etc. Use a solution made of 60 pounds of coperas dissolved in a barrel of water. Sprinkle fleety over the cellar and put a paleful in a cesspool. Disinfecting the sick room. Plenty of fresh air and cleanliness are to be first considered. The clothing, bed linen and
towels should be washed in a tub containing a zinc chloride solution and the water should be boiling hot. A solution of coperas and water should be immediately placed in all vessels containing discharges. Dislocations. The novice should never attempt to treat at this location. All he can do is to place the patient in a comfortable position using a sling or cushion to support the part injured. A physician should be summoned. Dog bites. Wash the wound with
antiseptic soap or pure soap and water with borax dissolved in it to the strength of a teaspoonful to a pint. Hydrophobia occurs very infrequently and many dogs, supposed to be mad, are suffering from some other ailment, but a surgeon should be summoned in all cases whenever it is possible to do so. The bite of a rat, cat or other animal is not generally dangerous, but the wound should be washed with borax and water as above. Better summon a surgeon. Suck
the wound vigorously before applying washes. There is no danger to the person sucking a wound of this nature unless the skin on his lips or in his mouth is cracked or bleeding, but he may wash his mouth with borax water if he feels uneasy about it.
