The Disinfection of Anthrax-Infected Dried Hides in the Dry Condition by Means of Hydrogen Sulphide

Abstract

1. Hydrogen sulphide has been found to have a destructive action on dry anthrax spores.2. Disinfection of hard, dry, very resistant infected hide specimens, in conditions both of ease and difficulty of access of the disinfecting gas, has been obtained by treatment with hydrogen sulphide at 20° and at 37° C. in periods of 7–16 days.3. The fact that hydrogen sulphide, in the experimental conditions described, penetrates to the middle of a bundle of leather pockets has been verified by its action in disinfecting (sometimes partially—sometimes completely) anthrax-infected threads placed in the middle of such a bundle.4. Increase of the temperature at which treatment is carried out has been found to hasten disinfection.5. Disinfection of anthrax-infected threads has been obtained by treatment with equal parts of hydrogen sulphide and air in 3 days at 60° C.The author wishes to thank the Council of the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association for permission to publish this paper, which was submitted to them in the private and confidential report for 1930 of the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association.