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Rendering pathogens harmless through the use of heat, antiseptics, antibacterial agents, etc.

Purification from infecting matter.

Disinfectio. Same etymon (F.) Desinfection. The act of destroying miasmata, with which the air, clothing, &c., may be infected. Various means have been proposed for this purpose. Those most commonly employed are: chlorine, sulphurous and chlorohydric acid gases, vapours of vinegar, nitrous acid, and what is, perhaps, the most manageable of any, and equally efiicacious, chlorinated lime, or any of the chlorides of the alkalies. It is questionable if any chemical action occur between these agents and the miasmata, whence results a compound which is harmless. Disinfection also includes the action of antiseptics. Chlorine or Oxymuriatic Fumigation, Solutio alexiteria Gaubiana, Fumigatio antiloimica Gaubii, Alexiterium chloricum, Fumigatio Guytoniensia, is made by adding common salt, to black oxide of manganese, sulphuric acid, and water. This may be carried through an apartment, or be shut up in it. Nitrous Fumigation, Alexiterium Nitricum, Fumigatio Smythiana, may be formed by placing nitrate of potass, and sulphuric acid, in a saucer on hot sand.

Disinfectant compound of residue from distillation of naphtha and one part of concentrated sulphuric acid.

The destruction of bacteria by chemical or physical methods.