450 GERMICIDES — DISINFECTANTS 



2. General Disinfectant. Phenol may be used as an antiseptic 

 or disinfectant for towels, dressings and wounds in from 1 — 5 per 

 cent, solution. It is not employed as a surgical dressing so mucti as 

 formerly, because solutions strong enough to be antiseptic are irri- 

 tant to the tissues. It is not a suitable agent for disinfection of the 

 surgeon's hands because it anesthetizes or benumbs them. Knives 

 and other cutting instruments, which are injured by boiling, may 

 be disinfected by placing them in a strong solution, then in alcohol, 

 and finally in sterile water. Phenol should not be used for pro- 

 longed application to a part on account of its liability to cause 

 gangrene. It has been reported that the pustular form of anthrax 

 has been cured by injecting strong solutions of phenol around the 

 base of the pustule. Phenol camphor (Camphor phenique) maJses 

 a very good dressing for many wounds. See camphor, p. 87. 



3. Parasiticide. Phenol is toxic to most parasites, mange mites, 

 fleas, lice, etc. It is particularly serviceable for mange in sheep, 

 ringworm, lungworms, lice, etc., but should not be used upon dogs 

 or cats. 



' 4. Fistulce. Phenol and alcohol treatment. This method of 

 treatment has been given considerable prominence, by some prac- 

 titioners,, in various forms of fistulse. Liquefied phenol is injected 

 to fill the cavity, is allowed to remain for two minutes, and then 

 washed out with alcohol. The treatment is to be used once in two 

 weeks. Drainage is to be provided for, but the wound is not to be 

 irrigated. Simply wash the outside. 



5. Local Anesthetic. Phenol is one of the best agents we have 

 for pruritis, in which case it may be used in solution or in oint- 

 ment. 



6. Antemetic. Its antemetic action is probably due to its 

 slight anesthetic action upon the stomach. It may be given in very 

 weak solutions or one or two minims may be added to the usual dose 

 of bismuth. 



7. Tetanus. Phenol is given credit for having a beneficial 

 action in this disease, and it is believed that animals so infected 

 have a special tolerance for it. Bacelli's treatment consists of the 

 subcutaneous injection of phenol several times daily. Animals 

 stand relatively large doses of phenol in this disease, probably 

 partly due to a specific tolerance for it and partly because it is 

 largely precipitated by the tissues and but slowly absorbed. Thirty- 

 six drams of phenol have been given to a horse in this manner 

 within twenty-four hours, without producing toxic action. Various 

 strengths of solution and doses of phenol have been recommended. 

 One dram of phenol in a 5 per cent, solution four or five times 

 daily are usually employed. This treatment has been lauded by 

 some, but the results from its use are not encouraging. In 1911, 

 Baeelli reported the successful treatment of tetanus in man by the 



