The properties and advantages of ethylene oxide mixed with carbon dioxide or fluorinated hydrocarbon (Freon) as bactericide for hospital sterilization are described in detail. Three methods of sterilization are proposed: (a) in three foil bags; (b) in commercial ethylene oxide sterilizers; and (c) in a converted hospital autoclave. The three foil bags are made from 3-ply sheeting, having flexible paper on the outside, aluminum foil in the middle and a thin layer of polyethylene plastic on the inside. The sheeting (made by Akerlund Rausing Ltd., Lund, Sweden) supplied in rolls of varying widths can be made into bags of any shape simply by placing the two plastic layers in opposition and fusing the edges with a hot household iron. The bag can be filled with ethylene oxide-freon mixture from small pressure tins. (Abstractors note: Since ethylene oxide is also a good insecticide and fungicide, this might offer a simple method for the quick sterilization of books, manuscripts and small objects). -- AATA