Secretary's Budrjet. 389 



successful iiutagonist to bacterial influence. As far back as 1866-67 

 I tested this article in a series of experiments upon certain substances 

 of organic origin, and also those of an albuminous nature, the object 

 mainly being to prevent fermentation, decomposition and putre- 

 faction, which are corresponding conditions to the well-known 

 bacterian theory. The intermingling of carbolic acid in the- above 

 cases, in proportion of one part to one thousand, was tlien amply 

 sufficient for the purpose. 



In 1868, Dr. F. Grace Calvert, in a lecture before the Society 

 for the Encouragement of National Industry of France, said that 

 carbolic acid was then tbe hope of the textile manufacturer as an 

 antiseptic in tlie various glues, sizes, &c., inseparable from this 

 special manufacture, and to-day we have the very highest authority 

 in stating that it takes the lead for the same purpose, thougli 

 chloride and sulphate of zinc are valuable and reliable, and fre- 

 quently used. When we keep in view the fact that thirty-one 

 species of fungi are found growing upon the cotton tissue, and this 

 naturally arising from the use of organic substances, that without 

 the precautionary aid of antiseptics great losses sometimes would 

 be inevitable, why not, then, utilize the same philosophy as a 

 cautionary measure against the spread of bacterian influence upon 

 any vegetable structure to which it may be exposed. Any one 

 having any interest in the matter should secure a proper and 

 effectual syringe or force pump and try the antiseptic principle 

 upon their trees in their own particular districts and at a time at 

 least two weeks previous to any known case of pear blight or peach 

 yellows having been detected, the syringing being repeated occa- 

 sionally dui'ing any anticipated prevalence of the disease. 



Dr. Calvert in his lecture previously mentioned, stated that 

 carbolic acid had the advantage over all other antiseptics inasmuch 

 that it could not be used for any illegal purpose, as may be the case 

 of corrosive sublimate and some others then on trial ; but the well- 

 known investigator and experimenter, Koch, considers corrosive 

 sublimate at the present date the disenfectant and germicide par 

 excellence, as from his 'own experience it destroys spores in a solu- 

 tion of one part to 20,000 and solutions of one part to 1000 and 

 even 5000 are capable of destroying spores in a few minutes when 

 applied as a spray. The same strong opinion is held by the editor 

 of the Druggists' Circular who boldly asserts in the June number 

 of the present year that no agent can compare with corrosive 

 sublimate for the destruction of fungoid growths or bacteria, so far 

 as reliability and power are concerned, and adds that carbolic 



