DISINFECTION AND DISINFECTANTS. 223 



malignant oedema, and other diseases due to bacteria 

 which produce spores. Although it coagulates albu- 

 minous matter, it is not so active in this respect as bi- 

 chloride of mercury, and can therefore be used for the 

 disinfection of soiled linens, clothing, and also for 

 excreta. It is well to remember that carbolic acid is a 

 powerful corrosive poison. For liquid discharges in 

 cholera, typhoid, dysentery, etc., a 5 per cent solution 

 may be used, when twice the amount of carbolic to 

 material is advised. The mixture should be allowed 

 to stand four hours. 



A convenient method of preparing a five per cent 

 solution (1-20) is as follows: 



Carbolic acid (95 per cent) ozs. 6i 



Water gallon i 



Agitate until the acid is thoroughly dissolved in the water. 



^ The cresols are among the most powerful 



I 'RT'~"'R'FROT 



and valuable disinfectants known. None 

 of them are as poisonous as carbolic acid (phenol), 

 nor are they open to the objection that albumin- 

 ous material interferes with their action. They all 

 kill spores. Tricresol may be used in i per cent solu- 

 tion for the disinfection of infected discharges of all 

 kinds. The other preparations of the cresols, solutol^ 

 solveol, lysol, as compared to tricresol, have a reputation 

 for disinfecting power in the order in which they are 

 named. 



