PERMANGANATE OF POTASH

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8987, 23 November 1907, Page 5

PERMANGANATE OF POTASH

IS IT A GERM KILLER?

AN EXPERT'S OPINION

By Telegraph—Special to Age. WELLINGTON, November 22

"Is permanganate of potash a germ killer?" was asked cf a prominent authority on agricultural science on the Wuirarapa showgrounds. "A germ killer," he exclaimed. "Certainly not." "Many farmers use it as such," pursued the pressman. "For what?" queried the man of science. "Well, for bathing a cut." "It makes," admitted the expert, "a useful aseptic wash." "They use it to kill any germs that may be in the wound," remarked the interviewer. • "Then," was the reply, "they labour under a huge delusion." "Will it not prevent lockjaw?" "By no means. I know a man who gave lockjaw to two horses by a knife that had been steeped in permanganate of potash all night. If the fluid would not kill lockjaw fferms on a knife steeped in it all nigh*-, it cannot be called a disinfectant."

"Some farmers use it for abortion," said the newspaper man. "It is useless," said the specialist, "for that purpose. The best thing to use is corrosive stfblimate as recommended by the Government reports." "Then for what is permanganate of potash useful in this familiar red fluid that is worshipped as a perfect safeguard against infection by farmers and others everywhere?" "It is merely a deodorant," was the verdict, "which makes a good asentic solution -with astringent properties. Men who rely on it to cure abortion, prevent lockjaw, or safeguard cuts on their children's feet, will some day rue their follv."