Definition of Anti-zymotic:
Antizymotics (Gr. against fermentation). - These arrest fermentation dependent upon organic ferments (enzymes): diastase, pepsin, ptyalin; or upon organized ferments: yeast, bacteria, etc.:
[Culbreth1927, pp 39-40].
- Antiseptics (Gr. against rottening) which prevent or retard septic decomposition, by killing the bacilli producing it, or by arresting their development: corrosive mercuric chloride, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, sulfurous acid, phenol, cresol, creosote, lysol, thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, sodium borate, boric acid, chlorine, zinc chloride;
- Disinfectants - which destroy specific germs communicating disease (mostly microbes), by
- acting as oxidizants,
- combining with albumin,
- chemically combining to form substitution-compounds,
- arresting molecular changes,
- altering the reaction of the media containing the germs: heat (110-121° C.; 230-250° F.), lime, chlorinated lime and soda, ferrous sulfate, zinc chloride, potassium permanganate and dichromate, sulfurous and nitrous acids, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, air, water, fire;
- Deodorants - which destroy foul odors. These may be volatile (oxidizing and deoxidizing) agents, that act chemically on obnoxious gases: chlorine, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen dioxide, formalin; or non-volatile (chiefly absorbents) agents that act by condensing and decomposing the effluvia: potassium permanganate, charcoal, earth, lime, ferrous sulfate, etc.