150 The Diseases of Animals 
dogs, ether should always be used. In giving anes- 
thetics to animals, a person familiar with their use 
should be employed. For small surgical operations, a 
five per cent solution of cocaine, injected by a syringe, 
destroys all sensation in the part during the operation. 
DISINFECTION 
Disinfecting consists in destroying the germs or 
virus of a disease. Whenever an animal has been 
suffering from a contagious disease, it is necessary 
to disinfect the quarters and all utensils, instru- 
ments, harness and equipment that may have become 
infected. Stables are disinfected by first removing 
and burning all litter, rubbish and other loose ma- 
terial of little value. Next, the walls, floors, ceilings, 
mangers, pails, etc., should be thoroughly scrubbed 
with a five per cent solution of carbolic acid,—that is, 
one part of pure carbolic acid to twenty parts of water. 
When this has dried, the walls and mangers ean be 
painted or whitewashed. Harness and halters can be 
boiled vigorously for three-quarters of an hour. Cor- 
rosive sublimate, or bichlorid of mercury, one part to 
one thousand parts of water, can be employed in the 
place of the carbolic acid solution, but should not be 
used on metal as it is very corroding. One part of 
ereolin or similar coal-tar product to fifty parts of 
water is also a good disinfectant and is not poisonous. 
Care should be taken that carbolic acid and corrosive 
sublimate do not get on any food which the animals 
may eat. Bright sunlight is an excellent disinfectant, 
