1870.] REVIEWS AND NOTICES OP BOOKS. 93 



REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



Disinfectants and Disinfection, by R. A. Smith, Ph.D. 

 F.R.S. — {Contimied from No. 2, page 228.) — A large portion 

 of the experimental and original investigations of our author 

 were made by Royal Commission, in conjunction with Professor 

 Crookes, F.R.S. , in an enquiry into the nature of and remedy 

 for the Cattle Plague of 1865-66. 



A subject of so great national and world-wide importance 

 demanded the closest scientific scrutiny ; — and whilst, on the one 

 hand, the microscope was made the instrument of valuable infor- 

 mation as to the cause of the disease, (viz : the existence of 

 organic spores in the atmosphere which attended the outbreak 

 and marked the duration of the disease) ; the materials of 

 disinfection which proved most valuable, after a long series of 

 experiments, were, as already indicated, the Tar Acids — in the 

 form of Carbolic Acid, and as Carbolate of Lime.^ 



In referring to tar and its accompanying products, our author 

 treats us to a very learned and interesting historic review, (pp. 8- 

 17) and enters into the chemical history of <'tar acids," (page 

 59). By the distillation of wood tar, we obtain creosote and 

 acetic acid (vinegar). By the distillation of coal tar, we pro- 

 duce carbolic and cresylic acids. 



Of creosote we know — that it kills and preserves from decay, 

 insects, fishes, and animals, that it stops the flow of blood in man 

 and preserves flesh from decay. 



In the coal tar acids — we find some difi'erences. Carbolic acid 

 is poisonous, but less bo than creosote. It coagulates, but does 

 not stop bleeding. It exercises preserving and antiputrescent 

 powers in wonderfully dilute solutions. The action of the car 

 acids our author thus explains (page 62) : — " There is neither 

 " life nor decay without motion. Tar acids arrest that motion 

 "■ which takes place in decay. They are, therefore, antiseptic — 

 " they antisept. As soon as the decay ceases, the putrid gases 

 *' cease to arise. The acids are, therefore, disinfectant. They 



* Misprinted "Carbonic Acid" and "Carbonate of Lime" in the 

 former notice. 



