INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 377 



labeled " poison,"' and to avoid accidents none should be kept on 

 hand. 



(5) Formalin and formaldehyde gas have been found very effica- 

 cious as sanitary agents. Formalin is the commercial name for the 

 40 per cent solution of formaldehyde gas in water, and is one of the 

 most powerful antiseptics and disinfectants that we possess. Solu- 

 tions of this strength are manufactured by diiferent commercial 

 houses, and sold by the drug trade under the name of " f ormalose " 

 and '• formal,*' In this connection it should be mentioned that while 

 the 40 per cent solution of formaldehyde gas and formalin are ex- 

 actly the same thing, the former can be purchased at 33^ to G4 per 

 cent less than the latter. Formalin may be applied, diluted with 

 water in the proportion of 1 pint of formalin to 30 parts of water, 

 or 4 ounces of formalin to each gallon of water, and it may thus be 

 used as a wash or as a spray on all paints, metals, and woodwork, as 

 Avell as on clothing and other fabrics, without exerting any injurious 

 influence on the objects treated. It may also be applied to floors, 

 walls, and Avoodwork in whitewash by mixing 1 part of fonnalin to 

 30 parts of lime wash, or 4 ounces of formalin to each gallon of lime 

 wash. Formalin has the appearance of water and in the strong solu- 

 tion is poisonous, but when diluted as recommended above it is not 

 dangerous. The fumes given off by it, however, are very disagree- 

 able and irritating to the eyes and nasal mucous membranes. One 

 and one-half ounces of formalin added to 1 gallon of water is a valu- 

 able agent for the disinfection of the skin or septic wounds, but is 

 somewhat painful and irritating to raw surfaces. 



Formaldeh3'de is a gas which is soluble in 2^ parts of water (40 

 parts of formaldehyde gas to 100 parts of water), and this solution 

 constitutes the formalin of commerce. The use of formaldehyde gas 

 is in most cases impracticable for stable disinfection. In case the 

 stable is not too large and can be made almost air-tight the genera- 

 tion of formaldehyde gas, after removing all the animals, will be 

 found very serviceable. It penetrates all parts of the stable — the 

 walls, crevises, floors, ceiling — and is probably the best fumigating 

 disinfectant that we have. This gas may be generated by a specially 

 constructed apparatus devised for this purpose, but this method of 

 disinfection, while practicable in the house, is rather inapplicable for 

 stables and should be used only by experienced persons. 



(6) Some coal-tar products, such as creolin and lysol, are cheap, 

 effective, and easily applied disinfectants, their action being due to 

 the carbolic acid and creosote in their composition. They may be 

 used in 3 to 5 per cent solution. Creolin forms a milky solution in 

 water, while the aqueous solution of lysol is clear and oily. 



When it is desired to apply any of thcvse above-mentioned agents to 

 the stable or barnyard, a preliminary cleaning up of all debris and 



