Antiseptics 153 
bichlorid of mercury, by weight, to one thousand parts 
of water for external application. 
Carbolie acid probably ranks next to bichlorid of 
mercury in frequency of use as an antiseptic. It is 
dissolved in water and used in the strength of two 
and one-half to five per ceut; one part of acid to forty 
parts of water is the strength ordinarily used for the 
treatment of wounds on animals. For a strong anti- 
septic or disinfectant, one part of acid is added to 
twenty parts of water, making a five per cent solution. 
Pure carbolic acid is a caustic and will destroy tissues 
by burning. Carbolic acid is poisonous. 
Copper sulfate, commonly called bluestone or blue 
vitriol, is an excellent antiseptic and possesses as- 
tringent properties as well,—that is, it tends to pucker 
the tissues. It can be used in solution, in the strength 
of from two to four drams in a pint of water. For 
certain purposes it can be made much stronger. Copper 
sulfate, finely pulverized and dusted on a wound, is a 
mild caustic; a crystal of it rubbed on a surface acts 
as a caustic and is useful to check bleeding. An 
ointment that is useful in treating old sores can be 
made by mixing one part of finely pulverized copper 
sulfate and one part of sulfur with four parts of fresh 
lard or vaseline. Sulfate of copper is the basic material 
used in the making of Bordeaux mixture, so much 
used by farmers as a spraying material. 
Zine sulfate, commonly called white vitriol, is an 
astringent and antiseptic, and is used in the strength of 
one part of zine sulfate in thirty to sixty parts of 
water, or two to four drams to a pint of water. 
