RELATION BETWEEN THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION AND GERMICIDAL ACTIVITY OF THE MONOHYDRIC ALCOHOLS AND PHENOLS

Abstract

This paper presents the results of bacteriological tests of the gemicidal activity of a considerable number of monohydric alcohols and phenols, made as a part of a systematic study of the relation between the chemical and physical properties and the germicidal activity of various classes of chemical compounds. It is expected that a detailed account of the studies of the chemical and physical properties, especially with regard to measurements of surface tension, will appear at a later date. Many of the compounds studied were obtained from commercial sources. Those which could not be thus obtained were made in these laboratories. Whatever the source, however, all of the substances were very carefully purified. The boiling point and melting point, or solidification point, of each of the purified compounds is shown in table 1. The boiling point was determined by means of standardized Anschutz thermometers the stems of which were immersed in the vapors of the liquid during distillation. The table of Young (1902) was used in correcting boiling points for changes in barometric pressure. BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK The bacteriological tests have been made by the Rideal-Walker method (1913) modified as follows: First, by the use of the un-adjusted culture medium devised by J. H. Wright (1917), made with Armour's "Peptonum Siccum" and having a pH value of approximately 6.5; second, by the use of a medication tempera-303 JOURNAL OF BACTZRIOLOGY, VOL. XII, NO. 5