302 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



somewhat obscure, but it is more nearly an alcohol than an acid. 

 It very nearly resembles the creosote formerly obtained from wood 

 tar, and which is the active agent of preservation in smoked fish, 

 meats, &c. When separated with care, what is sold for pure car- 

 bolic acid is a white crystalline substance, usually with a pale 

 pink fluid, and at present sells for about two dollars per pound. 

 But a much cheaper article, often, but impropei'ly called "Solution 

 of Carbolic Acid," a dark colored fluid, selling at from fifty to 

 seventy-five cents per pound, answers equally well for any uses 

 the farmer may likely need it for. As it comes to be more gener- 

 ally used, the price will grow less, and we may probably find it of 

 more uniform grades of quality than at present. In some cases I 

 have even known what the distillers of coal tar call "dead oil," by 

 which they mean simply that part of the distilled portion which 

 sinks in water, to be called, but very improperly, carbolic acid. 

 This sells for ten to twenty cents per gallon, and contains a por- 

 tion of the tar alcohols, but so contaminated with tarry and sul- 

 phurous substances as to be exceedingly disagreeable ; although if 

 used freely, effective enough for disinfecting cattle cars, carcasses, 

 sewers, and perhaps for water closets, garbage receptacles, and 

 stables. It is from this "dead oil" that the so called carbolic acid 

 of commerce is obtained by repeated separating and purifying 

 processes. The value of what passes under the commercial name 

 "carbolic acid," is due to its content of phenol and cresol, or tar 

 alcohols. These seemed to be endoioed with a wonderfully destriic- 

 tive power over all low forms of life , such as the sporules and germs 

 from which come fermentation, decay, parasitical growths, and 

 infusoria, — thus destroying the very beginnings of the diseases thence 

 arising whether in plants or animals, as well as noxious effluvia, 

 etc. It is also an active medicinal agent and an effective protector 

 against insects, vermin, and the like. 



In a lecture delivered by Dr. F. Grace Calvert, F. R. S., before 

 the " Society for the Encouragement of National Industry," in 

 France, after giving an account of the progress of its discovery, 

 he says : 



"Wo will rapiiUy glance at the applications which have been made of this 

 remarkable substance for sanitary purposes, in medicine, agriculture and man- 

 ufactures. 



The disinfecting, or rather antiseptic, properties of carbolic acid are very 

 remarkable. The beautiful researches and discoveries of M. Pasteur have 

 shown that all fermentation and putrefaction is due to the presence of micro- 



