Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A handbook of therapeutics / by Sydney Ringer. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![CHLORINE. CHLORINE GAS. CHLORINE WATER. CHLORINATED SODA] CHLORINATED LIME i ^^^ ^^^^^ Solutions. These substances are used as deodorizers, disinfectants, and antiseptics. Whatever power they possess in these respects is due either to chlorine or to hypochlorous acid. They act probably in the following way:—Chlorine gas pos- sessing very strong chemical affinities, seizes with avidity the hydrogen from many organic and inorganic substances, and thus breaks up their composition. Hypochlorous acid, which is given off abundantly hy the two last- mentioned members of the group, is an active oxidizing agent. It yields up its oxygen readily, and so destroys many substances: at the same time chlorine gas is set free, which again acts in the way just described. These substances acting in this manner are deodorizers, destroying the ammonias, sulphuretted hydi'ogen, and sulphides of ammonia, on which the disagreeable smells of sick rooms depend. Chlorine, from its gaseous state, is admirably suited as a deodo- rizer, as it penetrates every cranny of the room, seaixhing out and destroying noxious and offensive gases. It must always be borne in mind that, while these substances may be conveniently and profitably used as deodorizers, it is yet preferable to prevent bad smells by free ventilation, and that chlorine gas itself has an odour very disagreeable to most people. If these deodorizers are often required in a sick room, it is a sure sign that ventilation is defective, and probably that the nurse is careless. These substances are employed as disinfectants, but the evidence in favour of their possessing such a property, although very generally held to be sufficient, is inconclusive. When treated with these substances, some infecting matters, it is true, lose their power to propagate disease ; but it is impossible](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2146148x_0072.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
