CARBOLIC ACID. 307 



used in time, arresting these diseases at the very beginning. Also 

 that the processes of fermentation and decay are zymotic in their 

 nature, and are also quickly arrested by the same agent. 



If a pure, or strong although impure article be used, caution is 

 needful, for if applied of full strength to the skin it causes severe 

 irritation, smarting, numbness, and even shrivelling. If this occurs 

 wash it oif at once and apply sweet oil or fresh butter. When swal- 

 lowed in quantity it quickly operates as an irritant poison. In such 

 case administer oil of some kind, preferably sweet oil or linseed 

 oil, and give an emetic as quickly as possible, to be followed with 

 lukewarm water. But with ordinary care in handling there is no 

 need of any trouble from its use. 



There are three or four methods of employing it which may be 

 used, as one or other seems most advisable. The first is to mix 

 with oil or lard in proportion of one to twenty, or even fifty or 

 more. This may be used for the feet of animals — for cattle cars or 

 places much exposed to rain, &c. Second, it may be mixed with 

 a dry powder and sprinkled where required. For this purpose dry 

 slacked lime is as good as any; this mixture is sometimes sold as 

 carbolate of lime. A third method is to dissolve in water and use 

 the solution. This is more frequently applicable and to a greater 

 number of uses ^ than any other, the chief drawback being the 

 trifling inconvenience of keeping a quantity on hand. The purest 

 carbolic acid of the shops requires about twenty times its weight 

 of water to dissolve it. When thus made, or if a saturated solution 

 of the impure article be made, much further dilution will be need- 

 ful for most purposes. In fact no one knows how little will often 

 answer the purpose suflSciently well. Last year the writer found 

 a weak solution effective in immediately arresting mildew on grape 

 vines and on various other plants ; also to destroy plant lice. It 

 was intended to repeat experiments in this and similar directions 

 during the present year, but no occasion for its use arose. There 

 is much probability that various plant troubles due to parasitic 

 growths may be controlled in this way, and its trial is advised for 

 this purpose. 



The last method named, and it is one adapted to many pur- 

 poses is, as soap, prepared as follows : slice a quantity of bar 

 soap, set it over the fire in a suitable vessel, after having added 

 just water enough to liquefy it by stirring and warming to less 

 than boiling heat, then take it off and mix thoroughly for each 

 pound of soap employed, from a quarter of an ounce to a whole 



