POULTRY NOTES — 1909. 83 



cents per pound. In purchasing this article one should order 

 simply "commercial cresol." 



Since cresol will not mix with water some method of making 

 it do so must be found if it is to be used as a disinfecting solu- 

 tion. The plan which has been adopted is to make a cresol 

 soap which shall be, like other soaps, soluble in water and at 

 the same time carry over into the solution a considerable amount 

 of the cresol. This is done in the following way.. 



Measure out 3 1-5 quarts of raw linseed oil in a 4 or 5-gallon 

 stone crock; then weigh out in a dish i lb. 6 oz. of commercial 

 lye or "Babbit's potash." Dissolve this lye in as little water 

 as will completely dissolve it. Start with ^A pint of water, and 

 if this will not dissolve all the lye, add more water slowly. Let 

 this stand for at least 3 hours until the lye is completely dis- 

 solved and the solution is cold ; then add the cold lye solution 

 very sloivly to the linseed oil, stirring constantly. Not less than 

 five minutes should be taken for the adding of this solution of 

 tye to the oil. After the lye is added continue the stirring until 

 the mixture is in the condition and has the texture of a smooth, 

 homogeneous liquid soap. This ought not to take more than 

 a half hour. Then while the soap is in this liquid state, and 

 before it has a chance to harden add, with constant stirring, 

 8^ quarts of commercial cresol. The cresol will blend per- 

 fectly with the soap solution and make a clear, dark brown fluid. 

 The resulting solution of cresol soap is then ready to use. This 

 cresol soap will mix in any proportion with water and yield a 

 clear solution. 



As has been said, cresol soap is an extremely powerful disin- 

 fectant. In the Station poultry plant for general purposes of 

 disinfecting the houses, brooders, brooder houses, incubators, 

 nests, and other wood work, it is usually used in a 2 per cent, 

 solution with water. Two or three tablespoons full of the 

 cresol soap to each gallon of water will make a satisfactory 

 solution. This solution may be applied through any kind of 

 spray pump or with a brush. Being a clear watery fluid it can 

 be used in any spray pump without difficulty. For disinfecting 

 brooders or incubators which there is reason to believe have 

 been particularly liable to infection with the germs of white 

 diarrhea or other diseases the cresol may be used in double the 

 strength given above and applied with a scrub brush in addition 

 to the spray. 



