CARBOLIC ACID. 303 



scopical vegetables or animals, which during their vitality, decompose or change 

 the organic substances, so as to produce the effects which we witness, and as 

 carbolic acid exercises a most powerful destructive action upon these micro- 

 scopic and primitive sources of life, carbolic acid, therefore, is an antiseptic 

 and disinfectant much more active and much more rational than those generally 

 in use. 



It is necessary that I should here make a few remarks, explanatory of the 

 distinctions between deodorizers, disinfectants, and antiseptics. 



Deodorizers. All substances merely acting as such are neither disinfect- 

 ants nor antiseptics, as they simply remove the noxious gases emitted from 

 organic matters whilst in a state of decay or putrefaction, without having the 

 property of arresting decomposition or fermentation. For it has been proved 

 that the source of infection or contagion is not due to noxious gases or bad 

 smells, (being merely indicators of its probable existence,) but as we shall see 

 presently, to microscoijic spores floating in the atmosphere, and which by their 

 ulterior development and propagation are believed to be the true source of 

 contagion. 



Disinfectants. Under this head may be classed bleaching powder, or 

 chloride of lime, sulphurous acid, and permanganate of potash ; they first act 

 as deodorizers, and then as disinfectants, but they must be employed in large 

 quantities, to thoroughly oxidize or act upon organic matters, so as to prevent 

 them from again entering into decomposition ; but still it is known that if the 

 organic substances so acted upon are exposed to the atmosxjhere, tliey will 

 again experience decay and putrefaction ; they are, in fact, more destructive 

 agents than disinfectants, and they are never antiseptics. 



Antiseptics. Antiseptics, such as corrosive sublimate, arsenious acid, 

 essential oils, carbolic acid, etc., act as such by destroying the sources of decay 

 and decomposition, that is to say, they destroy or prevent the formation of the 

 germs of putrefaction or fermentation, without acting upon the mineral or 

 vegetable matters present. The advantage of their use is, therefore, that they 

 act, when used in small quantities, upon the primary source of all organic mat- 

 ters in a state of decay ; further, they are deodorizers, for they prevent the 

 formation of offensive odors, and consequently they are antiseptices, disinfec- 

 tants, and deodorizers. One great advantage which carbolic acid possesses 

 over other antiseptics is, that it cannot be used for any illegal purpose, as 

 arsenic or corrosive sublimate may. 



And allow me further to add that disinfectants, such as chlorine, perman- 

 ganate of potash, or Condy-fluid, operate by oxidizing not only the gaseus 

 products given oflf by putrefaction, but all organic matters with which they 

 may come in contact ; whilst carbolic acid, on the contrary, merely destroys 

 the causes of putrefaction, without acting on the organic substances. The 

 great difference which therefore distinguishes them is, that the former deals 

 with the effects, the latter with the causes. Again, these small microscopic 

 ferments are always in small quantities as compared to the substances on which 

 they act, consequently a very small quantity of carbolic acid is necessary to 

 prevent the decomposition of substances ; therefore its employment is both 

 efficacious and economical. Moreover, carbolic acid is volatile, it meets with 

 and destroys, as Dr. Jules Lemaire says, the germs of sporules which float in 



