CARBOLIC ACID AS A DISINFECTANT, ETC. 
389 
pared with carbolic acid and lime-water, which is applied for the pur¬ 
pose of preventing decomposition in sewers, according to the idea enter¬ 
tained by one of us, of purifying whole cities by preventing the gene¬ 
ration of gases in sewer water or among accumulations of animal refuse. 
The liquid is also used to prevent the decomposition of animal matter 
when it cannot at once be made use of, especially in the case of meat 
brought to market, or animals that have died in the field. The solution 
of the powder has also been used, to some extent, in dissecting-rooms, 
where it immediately destroys any noxious smell, and at once liberates 
the fingers of the operator from the peculiarly nauseous odour which so 
often attaches to them. It has also been found useful in the treatment 
of sores, as well as of dysentery. Mr. M‘Dougall has also applied 
carbolic acid to the destruction of parasitic insects on sheep, and has in 
many districts entirely driven out the arsenical preparations by the use 
of this acid united with fatty substances. Sheep dipped in it are not liable 
to be attacked by tick, even when left for some months among other 
sheep infected with it. Foot-rot and other diseases of sheep are also 
said to be prevented and cured by its use.’* 
We have thought it not inopportune to allude to this sub¬ 
ject at the present time, since a Select Committee has been 
appointed by Parliament to inquire into the best mode of 
utilising the sewage of towns, with a view to the reduc¬ 
tion of local taxation, and for the benefit of agriculturists, 
and this the more, since as a profession, we are intimately 
associated with the last named. 
The Select Committee have recently agreed to the follow¬ 
ing first report: 
“ 1. That careful and exact experiments are necessary to 
elucidate the agricultural value of sewage, and the best mode 
of applying it. 2. That such experiments have been carried 
on at Rugby by the commission appointed to inquire into 
the best mode of distributing the sewage of towns, and 
applying it to beneficial and profitable use. 3. That it is 
desirable that these experiments shall be continued during 
the present year.” 
We know that there are chemical difficulties in the way of 
obtaining those matters which constitute the active principles 
or real worth of the sewage in a concentrated form; yet when 
it is borne in mind that the value of London sewage alone 
is nearly two millions a-year, which we are not only throwing 
away, but what is worse, spending millions yearly to make 
the waste more complete, it is time that something should 
be done to prevent this. And when to this is added the 
sewage of the country generally, the loss sustained is im¬ 
mense. Mr. Ellerman supposes the value of reproducing 
matter thus lost, to be <£50,000,000 a-year, and Mr. Mechi 
says it is worth the cost of feeding London. 
Mr. Brady, in moving for the select committee, stated that 
in a series of calculations made by several eminent men of 
