CONSUMPTION GERMS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1800, 12 July 1913, Page 13

CONSUMPTION GERMS

IN WHARF SWEEPINGS. Mr. P. H. Molesworth, F.C.S., F.G.S., Central Analytical and Assay Office, Sydney, reports:— "In order to tost the Germicidal Power of Lifebuoy Soap, I conducted the following experiments:— " No, I.—l obtained, by sweeping, about a pound woiglit of ordinary miscellaneous dust. This sample I gathered from a well-known passenger wharf and its approaches. I placed l some of this under a most powerful miorosoopo, which enabled me to clearly distinguish various forms of germs or microbes. Somo of these I was able to identify, but others were unknown to me. . " Among those with which I was moro or less familiar,' I recognised the Bacillus of Tuberculosis, the germ of Consumption. . " I then immersed the dust in a 10 per cent, solution of Lifebuoy Soap, for fifteen minutes. After filtering off the solution, I again submitted tho dust to tho same examination undor the j microscope, and found that all life, \ even that of tho Tubercle Bacilli (which wore fairly numerous) was extinct. "No. 2.—ln a similar manner to the foregoing I collected a sample of common household dust, and conducted a like test. Tubercle gorms were present, but so few that I bad to repeat my observations moro than ouce to foel certain of the fact. " Tho destruction of the bacterial life ■was quite as satisfactory as in tho first experiment. After a lapse of 24 hours I again examined tho two samples of treated dust, but found, as before, no traces of life in them, which I consider very clearly demonstrates the strong germicidal powers of Lifebuoy Soap."