PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 537 



however, be fuirly tried; they must be used with perseverance 

 and energy; not grudgingly or insufficiently, us has sometimes 

 ])een the case, but Avith the determination to keep the disinfectant 

 in presence- of the poison everywhere and constantly, so that every 

 particle of virus may be, without tViil, subjected to its action. 



For the reasons stated in Mr. Crookes' report, it appears that 

 chloride of lime is inferior to the combined use of carbolic and 

 sulphurous acids. But there is no doubt of the efficacy of this 

 agent, and in certain circumstances, as for the washing of railway 

 trucks, it may be employed in addition to boiling water or steam. 

 It is very desirable that the use of carbolic acid should become 

 general throughout the country in uninfected as well as in infected 

 districts. There is little doubt that even were there no danacr 

 from the cattle plague, the great purifying effect of this substance 

 on the air of cattle sheds, would contribute greatly to the health 

 of the animals. Third Report of the Royal Commissionerfi on 

 the Cottle Plague. 



The Use of Piienic Acid. 



A paper was lately read at the meeting of the Academy of 

 Sciences, by M. Lemaire, who ascribed ext^raordinary properties 

 to this acid, which is one of the results of the volatile distillation 

 of coal-tar. He stated that anatomical specimens and entire ani- 

 mals might be preserved, in a fresh condition, in vessels smeared 

 over on the inner surface with phenic acid, provided that the ves- 

 sels are hennetically sealed, so as to prevent the removal of the 

 air contained in them. The bodies of animals injected with phe- 

 nic acid, dissolved in water, may be kept without any alteration 

 by the contact of atmospheric air. In this manner, the body of 

 a man might be preserved at a very trifling expense. 



Disinfecting and Deodohizing Compounds. 



1. Sir William Biirnett''s Patent Solution. — It is made by dis- 

 solving zinc in commercial muriatic acid to saturation. 



2. Ellerman^s Deodorizing Fluid.— This, consists chiefly of 

 perchlorides and chlorides of iron and manganese. 



3. Ledoyeii's Solution. — This is a solution of nitrate of lead, 

 and contains about 20 oz. of the salt in a gallon. The specific 

 gravity should lie 1.40. A similar compound may be made by 

 mixing 13-^- ozs. of litharge with six pints of water, and adding 



