CARBOLIC i JID 329 



experiments, cited by Thornton,* on dogs with mixtures of 

 toxic doses of carbolic acid and alcohol, and with the ad- 

 ministration of poisonous doses of the acid followed by 

 alcohol, the results go to show that alcohol does not in any 

 way lessen or alter the poisonous effect of carbolic acid 

 except in preventing the corrosive action on the stomachs 

 His conclusions are somewhat weakened, however, by tho 

 fact that doses of alcohol were used which in themselves 

 might be toxic (4 to 9 ounces). It is certainly well to give 

 pure whiskey or brandy in a large dose by the mouth after 

 carbolic acid has been swallowed, for two reasons : to pre- 

 vent the corrosive action of the acid on the mucous mem- 

 branes, and to act as a circulatory stimulant, even if there' 

 is not any other specific effect produced. 



Administration. — Carbolic acid is commonly given in- 

 ternally, diluted several hundred times with water. 



Uses External. — A solution of carbolic acid (1-20) is. 

 frequently used in surgery to disinfect the unbroken skin^ 

 while a weaker solution (1-50) is more suitable as am 

 antiseptic upon raw surfaces and mucous membranes.- 

 While corrosive sublimate has enjoyed chief popularity as a 

 surgical antiseptic for many years on account of its cheap- 

 ness and supposed superior bactericidal properties, recent- 

 experiments (see p. 215) have shown that the value of cor- 

 rosive sublimate is much over-estimated, so that carbolic' 

 acid has again resumed almost the importance it originally^ 

 had in Listerian days in surgical work. Pure carbolic acid 

 is occasionally used as a caustic to destroy small growths,, 

 as warts, and the lining membrane of fistulse of the poll,, 

 withers, or lateral cartilages; to swab out a septic. uterus,, 

 and as a local anaesthetic upon the skin. A drop of pure' 

 acid, or a line drawn with a brush along a proposed path of 

 incision, may render a hypodermic puncture or superficial 

 incision painless. Carbolic acid with glycerin (1-16) is one 

 of the most excellent preparations for applying to sluggisk 



* Progressive Medicine, p. 345, Dec, 1901. 



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