Disinfection

the act of purifying from infectious and contagious matter. Agents which can destroy the specific poisons of infectious diseases and prevent them from_ spreading are ealled disinfectants. The action of dis: infect ants is therefore analogous tc that of antiseptics, and consists of the destruction of low forms of life. Thermal and chemical means are used in disinfection. Hot air and steam ‘are included in thermal disinfection while chemical disinfection destroys the infective particles by applying ‘substances of a chemical nature.