Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background _ the Invention
This invention relates to embalming fluids containing
anti-microbial agents, in particular to embalming fluids contain-
ing combinations of both disinfectants and plant growth
regulators, which combinations exhibit high anti-microbial effect
with but small concentrations of ingredients.
Embalming fluids are well known and described in the
art. Typical formulations used for embalming fluids are disclosed
in Frederick and Strubb, Principles and Practice of E~balm nq,
pages 199-220 (4th ed. 1967), and Mendelsohn, Embalmina Fluids,
Chapter 4 (Chemical Publishing Co., NY 1940).
As is known in the art, embalming fluids are employed
for the purpose of disinfecting and preserving the dead human
body and for creating and maintaining a natural appearance. There
are three general types of embalming fluids, identified as
arterial fluids, pre-injection fluids, and cavity fluids. Many
embalming fluids essentially contain aqueous solutions of
formaldehyde in varying strength, with other additives to
produce desired results. For example, in arterial fluids, it
is common to find anti-coagulants to inhibit or retard blood
clotting, chemicals such as various buffer pairs to control and
vary pH and toxicitv, relaxing agents to relax muscle tissue,
various inorganic salts to control specific gravity, hardening
power, and various other properties of the fluid, surface
active agents, dyes, and the like.
Disinfectants are included in embalming fluids in
order to kill or destroy disease-causing microorganisms,
including both bacteria and fungi. Both groups of microorganisms
can be "killed" (their metabolic processes disrupted) by a wide
class of
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biocldally-active chemicals termed "disinfectants". The use of
such disinfectants in the process of embalming is of highest
importance, since that process has for its goal not only the
preservation of the physical body for psychological value to the
S bereaved, but most importantly the thorough disinfection of the ;.
cadaver so that it does not present a public health hazard.
While both aims of professional embalming are achieved
by the use of commercially available embalming fluids, such fluids
are sold as concentrates containing high concentrations of the
components. The use of these concentrates results in high levels
of fumes, which not only make the fluids unpleasant to work with,
but are often toxic and may indeed present an occupational hazard
for the professional embalmer or other mortuary personnel.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
to provide an improved embalming fluid exhibiting increased dis-
infectantor anti-microbial effects. It is a further object to
provide embalming fluids which exhibit anti-microbial effects
which are as good as known embalming fluids, while requiring far
less disinfectant for the irradication of microorganisms, sub-
stantially without production of the noxious fumes produced by
those known embalming fluids.
¦ These and other objects are accomplished by the embalm-
¦ ing fluid compositions of the present invention, which contain,
in addition to a disinfectant, certain amounts of chemicals known
25 - commercially as "plant growth regulators". It has now been found
that combinations of the chemical substances known as disinfectant s
and the chemical substances known as plant growth regulators
results in a synergistic improvement in bringing about the death
of bacteria and fungi.
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I Disinfectants are materials which destroy or inhibit
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the microorganisms causing disease. A wide variety of d~i-nfoctant
are suitable for use in accordance with the present invention.
Such agents include anti-bacterial agents such as sulfonamides,
i.soniazid, p-amino salicylic acid, penicillin and its derivatives,
e . g . penicillin V, unpenicillin, cephalosporin and its derivatives
e.g. well-known compounds of the structures of cephalosporin A,
Icephalosporin C, e.g. cephaloridine, cephalothin, etc., strep-tomyc n,
;tetracyclines, chloramphenicols, erythromycin, novobiocin, neomycir ,
Ibacitracin, polymyxin, etc., and salts thereof; anti-fungal agents
¦such as griseofulvin, nystatin, etc.,and salts thereof; plant chemc _
¦therapeutics such as captan (N-trichlorothiotetrahydrophthalimide)
maneb (manganese ethylene bisdithiocarbamate), thiram (tetramethyl
Ithiuram disulfide); known skin disinfectants such as alcohols,
¦particularly lower alkyl alcohols, e.g. methanol, ethanol, iso-
¦proponal, etc.; sources of active halogens (fluorine, chlorine,
¦bromine or iodine), e.g. solutions of halogens, salts such as
Isodium hypochlorite, idophors (surface active detergents con-
¦taining iodine as part of the molecule), etc.; phenolics, e.g.
Iphenol, cresol, and their derivatives, particularly the halogen-
¦ated alkylated and/or nitrated derivatives, such as o-phenylphenol
!I hexachlorophene, p-chloro-m-cresol, bithionol, etc.; aldehydes,
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e.g. formaldehyde, glyoxol, gluteraldehyde, succinaldehyde, etc.,
Iparticularly lower alkyl aldehydes; peracids and derivatives
¦I thereof, e.g. peracetic acid, perpropionic acid, perbutyric acid,
llperbenzoic acid, preferably lower alkyl peracids; quaternary
¦¦ammonium compounds, which are cationic detergents and derivatives
having nitrogen with a quaternary valence, e.g. ammonium ((5-
hydroxy-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-yl) methyl) dimethyl tetradecyl chlorlde,
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(hereinafter referred to as ADAK), and others, e.g. disclosed in
my U.S. Patent No. 2,918,402; metal binding agents, including
chelating compounds and sequestering compounds, e.g. 8-hydroxy-
quinoline (or oxine), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilo-
triacetic acid, and others well known in the art; and numerous
dyes, e.g. acridine dyes, gentian violet, and many others well
known in the art. Other desirable disinfectants include heavy
metal disinfectants such as mercurial compounds, e.g. mercuric
bichloride, mercuric oxycyanide, potassium mercuric iodide,
organic mercurials such as phenylmercuric; silver compounds, e.g.
silver nitrate, ammoniacal silver nitrate, silver picrate, etc.,
copper compounds, arsenic compounds, etc. However, while the
heavy metal compounds are efficient disinfectants, their use in
embalming fluids is prohibited by law in many areas, primarily
for environmental reasons. Many other suitable disinfectants
will be readily apparent to the skilled in the art. Presently
preferred are formaldehyde and the quaternary ammonium compounds,
as well as the other known disinfectants used in embalming, such
as the sodium derivative of o-phenylphenol, p-chloro-m-cresol,
tribromothymol, glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, etc.
Suitable plant growth regulators include naturally
occurring plant growth regulators including the "auxins," e.g.
auxentiolic acid, auxenolonic acid, ~-indolylacetic acid or salts
of such acids, indole-3-acetonitrile, etc., as well as the
gibberelic acids and salts thereof and the kinins, and others
known in the art; synthetic agents based on the molecular structure
of the natural agents (aka "synthetic auxins"), e.g. ~-(indole-
3)-propionic acid, ~-(indole-3)-butyric acid, etc.; substituted
phenols, e.g. 2-sec butyl-4, 6-dinitrophenol (dinoseb or DNBP),
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2-(1-methylbutyl)-4, 6-dinitrophenol (dinosam or DNAP), penta-
chlorophenol (PCP); chlorophenoxy compounds, e.g. (2,4-dichloro-
phenoxy) acetic acid (2,4-D), (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) acetic
acid (2,4,5-T), ((4-chloro-0-tolyl)oxy) acetic acid (MCPA),
4~((4-chloro-0-tolyl)oxy) butyric acid (~lCPB); chloro-substituted
or methyl-substituted acetic and propionic acids and salts thereof ,
e.g. trichloroacetic acid, amides such as N,N-diallyl-2-chloro-
acetamide (CD~A), 2-chloro-N,N-diethylacetamide (CDEA), 1,2-dihydrl ~_
5,6-pyridazine dione (M~l); ureas, e.g. 1,3-bis (2,2,2-trichloro-
10 - l-hydroxyethyl) urea (DCU), 1,1-dimethyl-3-phenylurea (fenuron),
3`-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (diuron), 3-(p-chloro-
phenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea (monuron), l-butyl-3-(3,4-dichlorop}-enyl)
¦l-methylurea (reburon); carbamates, such as 4-chloro-2-butynyl-
¦m-chlorocarbanilate, butyn-l-yl-3-N-3-chlorophenylcarbamate N-
¦ (3-chlorophenyl) carbamate; thiocarbamates, e.g. s-ethyl dipropy~-
¦ thiocarbamate ~EPTC), s-(2,3-dichloroallyl) diisopropylthio-
carbamate (Diallate); dithiocarbamates, e.g. 2-chloroallyl diethyl
dithiocarbamate ~CDEC), sodium methyldithiocarbamate (~letham),
¦thiodiazines, e.g. tetrahydro-3,5-dimethyl-2H-1,3,5-thiadiazene-
¦2-thione (dazomet); triazoles, e.g. 3-amino-s-triazole (amitrol~)~
¦ triazines, e.g. 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (simazine) ,
; ¦ 2-chloro-4,6-bis(diethylamino)-s-triazine (chlorazine), 2-chloro-
¦4-(diethylamino)-6-(ethylamino-s-triazine (trietazine), ipazine,
atrazine, simetone, prometone, atratone, etc.; benzoic acids, e.g.
2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid (2,3,6-TBA), chlorinated benzoic acid
(PB), amiben, nitroben, etc.; chlorinated benzenes, e.g. dichloro-
benzene, trichlorobenzene; and other known regulators, e.g. NPA,
(acetato) phenyl mercury (PMA), potassium cyanide, 1,1,1,3,3,3-
hexachloro-2-propanone (llCA), IPX, OC~I, O,0-diethyl dithio bis
I ~ tl~3~S~ ~
(thioformate) (~XD), methanearsonic acid (MAA), EBEP, DIPA,
Dr~, ammonium sulfamate (AMS), ferac, endothal, diquat, acrolein
maleic hydrazide. Others are known in the art. See, e.g.
Ashton and Crafts, ~1ode of ~ction of ~lerbicides (N.Y. 1973),
incorporated herein by reference, partlcularly Chapter 13, for
carbamates and Chapters 16-22 for phenols, phenoxys, thio-
carbamates, triazines, triazoles, ureas, and unclassified compounc s,
respectively. Particularly preferred are amitrol, beta-indolyl
acetic acid, and alPha-naphthyl acetic acid.
~ccordingly, it has now been found that arterial and
cavity embalming fluids, as well as many adjunct and accessory
chemicals used in embalming, can be formulated which~will be much
less toxic in cases of contact or accidental i~estion, and which
l are much more pleasant to the embalmer to work with, because of
; 15 the lack of noxious fumes. It has been discovered that by using
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these syner~istic combinations of plant growth regulators and
disinfectants, it is possible to reduce the concentration of
toxic chemicals substantially, and yet achieve identical biolog-
ical results on bacterial and fungi as those produced by the more
highly csncentrated, toxic fluids that do not contain the syner-
. ~ gistic combination.
The amounts of the growth regulators and disinfectantsto be included in the embalming and other fluids made in accord-
ance with the present invention, depends on a number of factors.
Basically, the combination of plant growth regulator and disin-
fectant should be present in an amount which is sufficient to
at least stop the reproduction of the microorganisms with which
it will come in contact in the body, but should not be present in
such high concentrations as to ~ive off noxious fumes. While
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reproduction-arresting, e.g. bacteriostatic, amounts of these
ingredients are sufficient to eradicate infection by the normal
death rate of the non-reproducing microorganisms, preferably
1:he growth regulator and disinfectant are l~resent in sufficient
amounts to act as a microbicide, e.g. a bacteriocidal-agent,
which kills the microorganisms directly. Preferably, the
concentrations of each of the plant growth regulator and the
disinfectant in the emba]ming flu;d are less than their lethal
dosage, should accidental i~gestion of the fluid take place.
Within these broad ranges, the total concentration of the combina-
tion of growth regulator and disinfectant may vary considerably.
Because of increase in effectiveness achieved through the
combination, concentrations of the ingredients as low as a few
parts per million may still be effective against bacteria and
lS fungi. Preferably the concentration of each of these two
ingredients is at least about ten parts per million, more prefer- ;
ably at least about 40 parts per million. The preferred con-
centration of the total of both ingredients if from 0.0001~ to
0.1~ by weight, preferably from O.OOOS~ to 0.015~ by weight,
most preferably from 0.001% to 0.01~ by weight. The ratio of ~
plant growth regulator to disinfectant used in the combination may
vary from lO0:1 to 1:100, but preferably is within the range of
10:1 to 1:10, and most preferably is from about 5:1 to about
1:5.
Where one of the components is present in the fluid for
more than one purpose, it should be included in a concentration
which would be sufficient to satisfy all of its intended functions .
For example, most preservative chemicals have for goals in embalm-
ing both the fixation of proteins and other elements of the
cadaver, and the disinfection of the tissues of the cadaver. ~y
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formulating a synergistic combination into an arterial fluid or
cavity fluid, the enhanced germicidal action has a "sparing"
action on the formaldehyde or other preservative chemical compo-
nent which is designed to fix protein. In other words, while it
was previously necessary to include large amounts of such
compounds in order to satisfy both the disinfecting and protein
fixation functions, as a result of the present invention, the
amount of such compounds necessary in the formulation is sub-
stantiall~ reduced, since the amount necessary to satisfy the
disinfecting function is vastly reduced. This makes a larger
amount of such compounds available for the fixation of protein.
It thus becomes feasible to formulate an arterial or cavity
fluid with a minimum actual concentration of formaldehyde with
a small amount of a plant growth regulating compound, which fluid
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will be as effectlve in its action as known fluids containing
much higher formaldehyde concentrations.
The anti-microbial effect of the compositions of the
present invention on both fungi and bacteria is demonstrated by
consideration of the following illustrative embodiments:
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EXA~PLE I
The microbial action of aqueous solutions of varying
concentrations of amitrol and a quaternary ammonium disinfectant
ammonium ((5-hydroxy-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-yl)methyl) dimethyl tetra-
decyl chloride (herelnafter referred to as ADAK), against thefungus P. notatum. Growths o P. notatum on standard nutrient
media were treated with samples of the solutions listed below,
and the zone of inhibition (hereinafter noted as ZI) was measured
as per the A.O.A.C. procedures. The following results were
obtained:
AMITROL ADAK ZI(mm)
0.005 M 0.000 7.2
0.000 0.005 % 6.5
0,0l0 M 0.000 12.0
0.000 0.0l0 ~ 14.5
0~005 M 0.005 ~ 32.0
EXAMPLE II
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The same procedure was followed in evaluating aqueous
combinations of the plant growth regulator amitrol ~nd the disin .
fectant formaldehyde (CH2O) against the bacterium B. subtilis:
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AMITROLE C1l20 ZI(mm)
0.005 M 0.000 8.0
0.000 0.001 % 9.0
0.010 ~l 0.000 12.0
0.000 0.002 % 16.5
0.005 M 0.001 ~ 36.0
EXAMPLE III
Using the same technique, the aqueous solutions of the
plant growth regulator amitrol and the disinfectant ortho-phenyl
phenol (OPP) are tested against the fungi. _ notatum:
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AMITROLE _DPP ZI(mm)
0.005 M 0.000 6.5
. 0.000 0.001 M 12.0
0.010 M 0.000 11.0
0.000 0.002 M 20.5
0.005 M 0.001 M 30.5
EXAMPLE IV
.Using the same techniques, aqueous solutions of amitrol.
.~ and ADAK were tested against the bacteria B. subtilis, giving the
followlng results:
~IITROLE AD~ ZI (mm)
0.005 M 0.000 8.0
0.000 0.005 % 7.5
0.010 M 0.000 12.0
0.000 0.010 % 10.5
0.005 M 0.005 ~ 27.5
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EXAMPL~ V
Using the same techniques, aqueous solutions of the
. plant growth regulator ~-indolyl acetic acid (sodium salt) (here-
inafter IAA) and of the disinfectant ~D~K were tested against the
bacteria S. aureus. The following results were obtained:
IAA ADAK ZI(mm)
0.001 M 0.000 5.0
- . ~0.000 0.005 % 7.0
0.002 M 0.000 9.5
0.000 0.010 % 11.0
0.001 M 0.005 ~ 27.0
EXA~IPLE VI
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.. Using the same techniques, aqueous solutions of the
plant growth regulator ~-naphthyl acetic acid (sodium salt) (here-
inafter NAA) and the disinfectant formaldehyde were tested agains
the mold A niger, giving the following results:
. ~IAA CH20 _I(mm)
.. , ,. 0.001:~10.000 10.0
. 0.000 O.OO1~G 9.0
0.002 M 0.000 14.0
, 0.000 0.002 % 12.5
0.001 M 0.001 % 35.5
An example of a low concentration disinfectant con-
taining low concentrations of the toxic ingredients would contain
25 25 mg of ADAK and 200 mg of amitrol per standard 16 ounce
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embalming chemical bottle, giving 420 parts per million Of amitroi~
and 50 parts per million of ADAK. The lethal dosage of amitole
is given by ~erck Index, 8th edition, page 63 (1968) as 14.7
grams per kilogram. The lethal dose of ADAK is given by The
National Cancer Institute Screening Reports, NSC-68957D, as 125
mg/~.g. Accordingly, the concentrations of this synergistic combi-
nation in this disinfectant could still be increased four to five
times and still remain well below the toxic levels.
The embodiments of this invention which have been
described and illustrated are intended to be exemplary only,
and many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the
art from a consideration of this disclosure, or from a practice
of this invention. All of these modifications and advantages
are considered and intended to be within the scope and the spirit
of the apended claims.
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