Ammonia as a Disinfectant.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 19 June 1914, Page 2

Ammonia as a Disinfectant.

Recent experiments by Dr. Reigler of the Institute of Hygiene of Buda-Pesth have the highly important result of proving that ordinary ammonia is a powerful disinfectant, even in the case of the most .virulent diseases. As reported, the method of use was most simple, consisting merely in placing the ammonia in shallow vessels in the room, which was then, of course, hermetically sealed. For a room containing 100 cubic millimetres of space 1 kilogramme of ordinary ammonia was used, with these results :— After 1 hour there had evaporated 200gr. of liquid. After 2 hours there had evaporated 250gr. of liquid. After '•'> hours there had evaporated 300gr. of liquid. After 4 hours there had evaporated 350gr. of liquid. After 5 hours there had evaporated 390gr. of liquid. After 8 hours there had evaporated 4-oOgr. o; liquid. Examination of tissues previously impregnated with microbes showed that the bacilli of cholera and typhoid were killed at the end of two hours ; the bacteria and spores of anthrax in less than three hours. The method is not only effectual, but cheap, simple, and non-harmful to walls, pi.etu.reK, carpets, and furnishings.