Chapter VII. 
SOLUTIONS, THEIR USES AND PREPARATION. 
Carbolic Acid Solution as a Disinfectant : 
—Carbolic acid solution may be safely used for 
the disinfection of personal clothing, bedding, 
excreta, surgical instruments and appliances. It 
cannot be relied upon to destroy spores, and 
therefore should not be used as a disinfectant in 
tetanus, anthrax, malignant oedema, or in any 
disease due to invasion of spore-forming bacteria. 
A one per cent, strength solution is said to be 
sufficiently strong to destroy the germs of chol¬ 
era, typhoid fever, diphtheria and erysipelas if 
used hot in sufficient quantity, and allowed to 
stand an hour, so as to completely saturate the. 
material to be disinfected. 
A five per cent. (1-20) solution is necessary in 
surgical practice, in order to be reliable. Fifty- 
one drams of liquid carbolic acid dissolved in 
each gallon of water makes a five per cent, solu¬ 
tion. Pour boiling water over the carbolic acid 
and mix thoroughly. To make a small quantity 
of a five per cent (5%) sol. carbolic acid (1-20) 
add one dram of the liquid to nineteen drams of 
water. (See table at close of Chapter VII. for 
number of grains to each pint.) 
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