416 CARBOLIC ACID 



and dialysed iron. Carbolic solutions relieve the itching 

 and swelling occasioned by bees, wasps, mosquitoes, and 

 ants, and, promptly used, prevent mischief from dissection 

 wounds. 



Carbolic acid checks the parasitic growth of ringworm, 

 but is not so effectual as iodine or ferric-chloride dressings. 

 Alternated with other remedies, it is often serviceable in 

 that form of eczema popularly known as grease. In these 

 and other cases where there are foul discharges, it proves a 

 useful addition to lead, zinc, or other appropriate dressings. 

 In patchy eczema of dogs, attended with discharge, the acid 

 is sometimes applied mixed with starch powder or fuller's- 

 earth. For most eczema cases the wood-tar oils are, 

 however, more suitable than those derived from coal-tar. 

 Diluted solutions are used for destroying ticks, keds, lice, 

 and the acari of scab and mange. Follicular mange in dogs 

 may be successfully treated by shaving the hair, scrubbing 

 thoroughly with soap and water, and painting the skin 

 with a solution of one part of acid to twenty of water or 

 glycerin, but to avoid dangerous absorption, too large a 

 surface must not be dressed at a time. 



Crude carbolic acid is used for the disinfection of stables, 

 kennels, cow-houses, piggeries, and poultry pens ; of railway 

 horse-boxes, cattle-trucks, and loading-places, and of cattle 

 vessels and landing-stages. Carbolic disinfecting powders 

 are conveniently sprinkled daily throughout the stables of 

 many omnibus, cab, and carrying establishments of London, 

 Liverpool, and other large towns. Thus employed, carbolic 

 acid is not injurious or distasteful either to the animals or 

 their attendants. It drives away flies and vermin ; arrest- 

 ing decomposition, it prevents unpleasant smells ; fixing 

 ammonia, it increases the value of manure with which it 

 has been mixed. To ensure purification of infected premises, 

 the antiseptic must be freely and frequently used in powder, 

 fluid, spray, or vapour, or in several of these forms. The 

 vapour is readily evolved by sprinkling the acid on live coals 

 or on a hot metal plate. During the prevalence of infectious 

 disease, the walls and woodwork of stables, cowsheds, etc., 

 may be smeared with the crude acid. To destroy germs or 

 limit their distribution, animals infected with contagious 



