ACIDUM CARBOLICUM. 169 



the body, we find that most organised ferments (fungi, bacteria, 

 infusoria) are readily deprived of their characteristic powers by 

 solutions of carbolic acid; whilst chemical ferments, such as 

 pepsin and ptyalin, are much less readily affected. At the same 

 time the products of decomposition, which are almost invariably 

 foul-smelling, are deodorised by the phenol. The exact modus 

 operandi in all these cases is still unknown, as are also the 

 nature of the processes, and the relation of organisms to them. 

 Be the explanation what it may, the power of carbolic acid, or 

 of any substance which can thus arrest molecular processes 

 universally at work in physiology and pathology, must be said 

 to be enormous, both in itself and in its effects. 



Carbolic acid is Extensively employed in the antiseptic 

 method of the treatment of wounds, associated with the name of 

 its introducer, Sir Joseph Lister. A 5 per cent, solution in 

 water serves as a spray to cleanse instruments, and to wash the 

 skin of the part before operation. A 2 J per cent, watery solution 

 is used to purify sponges and the hands of the operator, and as 

 a lotion. Dissolved in olive oil (1 to 10, 1 to 20, 1 to 50, or still 

 weaker), or 1 part of carbolic acid with 7 parts of castor oil 

 and 8 of almond oil, it is used for lubricating catheters, or as a 

 special dressing. Carbolic acid gauze consists of unbleached 

 cotton gauze medicated with half its weight of a mixture of 

 carbolic acid (1), resin (4), and paraffin (4). 



Coming to its physiological action proper on the human 

 tissues, we find that carbolic acid is a local irritant to the skin, 

 causing burning pain, anaesthesia, and finally a caustic effect 

 with formation of a white hard eschar. It may therefore be 

 applied to poisoned wounds and foul ulcers ; and in dilute 

 solutions is a stimulating as well as a disinfecting wash to 

 wounds and discharging mucous surfaces or cavities, in the 

 form of a lotion, injection, or gargle. It also relieves some 

 forms of itching and inflammatory skin diseases, and is used 

 with success in ringworm, where it destroys the vegetable 

 organisms. 



Apart from the body, carbolic acid is extensively used as 

 a general disinfectant. 



Internally. In the form of vapour, carbolic acid is stimu- 

 lant and disinfectant, and is used in ulceration of the throat and 

 lungs (phthisis, dilated bronchi, gangrene, etc.), much impor- 

 tance having lately been attached to it in the so-called " anjjj- 

 septic "treatment of phthisis. In the stomach and bowels it is 

 a powerful irritant poison in largo doses ; in moderate quantity 

 it arrests fermentative changes in the gtiftrift ft^Utfl 11 ^ in cases 

 of dilatation of the vis: ; other points may be noted in 



this connection j first, that carbolic acid unites with sulphates 



