106 
CARBOLIC ACID. 
ing effect on the skin of the natives of Bengal. The natives 
do not feel so much the effects of the pure acid on the skin as 
do Europeans, in consequence of the continued exposure 
which natives are subjected to by wearing little or no clothing. 
In the position in which I am placed I am continually in the 
midst of large numbers of natives, and the class is not a very 
clean order, for the generality of them are covered with ring¬ 
worm, and it is a common sight to see many of the natives 
with the whole surface of their bodies one mass of growing 
and spreading vegetable fungi. I have treated dozens of such 
cases, and one trial of Calvert's No. 5 fluid will quickly 
prove it to be one of the most effectual parasiticides we 
possess. 
Dr. Tilbury Fox advocates blistering in recent cases of 
tinea, and prefers the contact of the parasiticide in a form 
that does not vesicate. No. 5 fluid carefully employed is 
just the agent. I have applied it undiluted to small porrigo 
spots, and it caused the immediate death of the fungus; for 
from the time of applying the agent the spreading tendency 
of the ring was checked, and in four or five days the cuticle 
would peel off, leaving a clean circle of a pinky-brown colour. 
In the case of the natives the parts so bleached will regain 
their original brown-black colour in time. Of course, in 
cases where the rings are large and cover a considerable 
surface, the appliance of the undiluted acid would produce 
too much irritation. The smarting effect produced on the 
skin by No. 5 fluid may be greatly relieved by applying to 
the part a little oil. No. 5 fluid diluted with an equal 
quantity of oil is also very destructive to the fungus of ring¬ 
worm, and is a good application in man, producing much less 
irritation than the pure acid. Diluted with four parts of oil it 
may be applied to the skin of natives with a certain amount 
of friction over the diseased parts, and will be followed by 
very satisfactory results. This is the strength I usually 
employ the acid in the case of men and horses. In the case 
of our subjects presenting small tinea spots the acid may be 
diluted with equal parts of oil, and applied with care to the 
rings; but if a large surface is diseased I would recommend 
1 to 4, applying with a little friction, taking care to prevent 
the horse from rubbing himself. I also strongly recommend 
isolation, since it has been demonstrated by Dr. Tilbury Fox 
that the air and dust of apartments occupied by ringworm 
subjects is found loaded with germs of the fungus, and from 
this we may see the importance of removing affected horses 
at once, and thoroughly disinfecting the stable, either 
with carbolic or sulphurous acids; the latter may be gene- 
