150 The Care of Animals 



dogs, ether should always be used. In giving anes- 

 thetics to animals, a person familiar with their use 

 should be employed. For small surgical operations, a 

 five i)er cent solution of cocaine, injected by a syringe, 

 destroys all sensation in the part during the operation. 



DISINFECTION 



Disinfecting consists in destroying the germs or 

 virus of a disease. Whenever an animal has been 

 suffering from a contagious disease, it is necessary 

 to disinfect the quarters and all utensils, instru- 

 ments, harness and equipment that may have become 

 infected. Stables are disinfected by first removing 

 and burning all litter, rubbish and other loose ma- 

 terial of little value. Next, the walls, floors, ceilings, 

 mangers, pails, etc., should be thoroughly scrubbed 

 with a five per cent solution of carbolic acid, — that is, 

 one part of pure carbolic acid to twenty parts of water. 

 When this has dried, the walls and mangers can be 

 painted or whitewashed. Harness and halters can be 

 boiled vigorously for three-quarters of an hour. Cor- 

 rosive sublimate, or bichlorid of mercury, one part to 

 one thousand parts of water, can be employed in the 

 place of the carbolic acid solution, but should not be 

 used on metal as it is very corroding. One part of 

 creolin or similar coal-tar product to fifty parts of 

 water is also a good disinfectant and is not poisonous. 

 Care should be taken that carbolic acid and corrosive 

 sublimate do not get on any food which the animals 

 may eat. Bright sunlight is an excellent disinfectant, 



