July 2, 1894.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
1 
1 1 
phurous acid, or sulphur dioxide, (S0 2 ) ; Potas 
shim sulphite (K 2 S0 3 ); Sodium sulphite (Na 2 S0 3 ); 
Calcium sulphite (CaS0 3 ); Calcium bisulphite 
CaH 2 2S0 3 ; Boric acid (H 3 B0 3 ); Borax 
(Na,B 4 0 7 ); Napthol or hydronapthol (C, 0 H 7 OH); 
Salicylic acid HC,H 5 0 3 ; Benzoic acid HC 7 H 6 0 2 ; 
Saccharin C C H 4 , CO, C0 2 , N H and hydrogen 
peroxide H 2 0 2 . Salicylic acid is used in the pre- 
servation of wine, beer, and milk. 1 part of 
salicylic acid is said to be capable of preserv- 
ing 10,000 of wine or beer. The antiseptic 
power of benzoic acid on food is also very great, 
in some cases exceeding that of salicylic acid. 
It is now much used for the preservation of 
such solutions of alkaloids as are used in op- 
thalmic surgery. 
The two chief deodorizers are charcoal and 
soil. The experiments made by Dr. Stenhouse 
in 1853 on the relative value of wood, peat and 
animal charcoal for absorbing gases may be 
quoted. Half a gramme of each kind absorbed 
the following proportions of different gases, 
expressed in cubic centimetres :— 
83 
Sul- 
phurous 
acid. 
ip 10 >p 
<ii 1^ t- 
ec 01 — < 
5 
60 
£■> 
•A 
CO S3 >c 
O 
Carbolic 
acid. 
r-l r-H 
Sulpliite 
cf Hy- 
drogen. 
US 
oooos 
CO ?\ 
Hydro- 
chloric 
acid. 
ib 6 1 
■* S3 
6 
2 ea 
!' a 
ao to eb 
O) OS ^ 
Kind of 
Charcoal 
Wood 
Peat 
Animal ... 
Dr. Stenhouse thus found wood charcoal the 
most efficient absorbent for those gases that 
are usually met with as products of decaying 
matters. Charcoal is not a mere absorbent of 
<*ases, but it possesses the power of oxidising 
them by means of oxygen, which is condensed 
in its pores, and is therefore to some extent a 
disinfectant. Dr. Stenhouse turned his observa- 
tions to account in the invention of a wood 
charcoal respirator, which he further improved 
by the addition of spongy platinum, as he found 
that platinised charcoal had greater powers of 
oxidation than charcoal alone- 
Soil, especially in the forms of dry earth 
and clays, has ' strong deodorizing, and a cer- 
tain amount of disinfectant power. In the 
economy of nature, the soil plays an all-im- 
portant, part in conjunction with air and water, 
as both a deodorizer and a disinfectant, hence 
efficient laud drainage which enable.. 1 lit- three 
a"eutb to act in conjunction with each other is 
the most effective means of disinfecting a coun- 
try on the large scale. The soil soon deprives 
badly-smelling substances, such as may be 
applied in the form of manure of all offensive 
odour. In passing through the soil, the soluble 
constituents are oxidised, and the drainage 
water passes off free of smell, while what is 
fertilising is, to a large extent, retained for 
the use of plant life. 
I may with advantage append to this short 
summary of disinfectants etc., the directions 
for the use of carbolic acid by the manufac- 
turers, Messrs. J, C. Calvert & Co. 
Directions for the use of Carbolic Acid Crystals. 
" The crystallized carbolic acid is soluble in 
water, and one pound to every five gallons of 
water is sufficient for deodorizing and disinfect- 
ing purposes. 
The bottle when opened should be placed in 
the water for about one hour (according to the 
temperature), 4, 8 or 12 of the bottles, which 
each contain a pound, being used for a tank 
of either 20, 40, or 60 gallons. The bottles 
should be cleaned of all adhering crystals, and 
the solution well stirred previous to use. 
A solution of this strength is applicable for 
deodorizing of sinks, water closets, or where- 
ever bad odours exist, and being neither alka- 
line, acid, nor corrosive, no injury need be 
apprehended to wood, iron, metal or clothes. 
In a concentrated form the acid acts as a 
caustic ; but its action on the skin may 
readily be arrested by rubbing with sweet oii. 
In hospital wards, night asylums, etc., to 
keep them in a healthy state and to prevent 
any spread of contagious diseases, dissolve 1 lb. 
of crystallized carbolic acid in 30 gallons of 
water, ,and sprinkle the floors with the solution, 
which may also be employed for deodorizing 
the chamber utensils. 
The solution may be used in foetid ulcers, 
cancers and all offensive sores ; it removes all 
disagreeable smell and putrescency, and renders 
the discharge innoccuous to the contiguous living 
and unaffected tissues. In its diluted state, 
therefore, it is a great boon to patients la- 
bouring under that class of disease. 
AVhen small-pox, typhoid fever, etc., occur, 
the spread of contagion may be prevented by 
proper use of this disinfectant. In such cases 
the acid should be used in the crystalline 
form, viz., 1 lb. of the crystal to 5 or more 
lbs. of wet sand, placed in shallow vessels, in 
various parts of the sick room. 
In case of any epidemic breaking out in a 
house, the same mixture should be used as a 
sanitary precaution throughout the same, 
Infected clothing and bed linen can be tho- 
roughly purified and rendered fit for use if 
well washed in the aqueous solution." 
The liquid acid may be used in a similar 
manner to the above. 
The disinfecting powder which contains 15 
per cent of carbolic aud cresyl alcohol is em- 
ployed as follows.— 
"For s-ick rooms. — Placed in dishes about the 
room this powder gives off carbolic acid freely, 
it must be renewed once in twenty-four hours. 
Infected clothing and lied linen can be purified 
and made fit for use, if well washed in water 
into which \ lb. powder has been mixed with 
each bucket full. 
As a Disinfectant. — The powder may be used 
by mixing one lb. in a bucket of water; or 
by sprinkling it lightly over the surface to be 
disinfected. 
