Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1902 — Disease Germa. [ARTICLE]

Disease Germa.

Many persons have erroneous notions as to the ease with which bacteria are destroyed by heat. In fact, the “thermal death point” for bacterial organisms varies widely. Some forms of water bacteria are killed by simply blood heat, while pathogenic bacteria develop best at that temperature. During their multiplying and vegetating phase of life bacteria are more easily destroyed hy heat than they are after passing to the resting or spore stage. Some spores derived from the soil require boiling for 1* hours to insure their death. Moist heat in the form of steam is the most effectual disinfectant. No spore, however resistant, remains alive after one minute’s exposure to steam at the 140 degree Centigrade. But no degree of cold has been found sufficient to destroy bacterial life.