110 CARBOLIC ACID AND DISINFECTANT PREPARATIONS. 
fully distilled, and exposed to a gradually lowered tempera¬ 
ture, it occurs in colourless needle-like crystals. In its 
several forms it exhibits a smoky, creasote flavour and a 
warm, burning taste, is sparingly soluble in water, but 
readily dissolves in alcohol, ether, and strong acetic acid. 
It consists of C 12 H s O + HO. It is the principal consti¬ 
tuent of M'DougalPs disinfecting powder, which conjoins 
the antiseptic and deodorizing virtues of carbolic and sul¬ 
phurous acids; and of Mr. IVLDougalPs disinfecting fluid, 
which is made with carbolic acid and lime water. In medi¬ 
cinal and surgical, as well as for sanitary purposes, these and 
several others of Mr. M'DougalPs preparations are often 
conveniently substituted for the pure carbolic acid. 
Carbolic acid is a sedative, anodyne, and astringent, and an 
antiseptic, deodorizer, and disinfectant. 
Like creasote, it acts irr large doses as a narcotico-irritant 
poison, and appears to destroy life by interfering with the 
actions of the heart. In the human subject, in doses of three 
minims, it has proved very serviceable in checking obstinate 
vomiting, indigestion with flatulence, and diarrhoea, especially 
when depending upon bad drainage or noxious effluvia. It 
is found very serviceable in protracted cases of diarrhoea 
amongst cattle and sheep; and it will doubtless soon be more 
generally used for allaying stomachic irritation and vomiting 
in dogs. It is an admirable dressing for unhealthy wounds and 
indolent ulcers, for foul in the feet of cattle and foot-rot in 
sheep, promptly lessening irritability, improving the tone 
and condition of the adjoining healthy textures, and at once 
destroying all smell. A diluted solution, containing half a 
drachm of acid to a pint of water, forms a good wash for the 
mouth, feet, and udder of animals affected with aphthous 
epizootic. It speedily removes the itching of skin diseases, 
and is especially adapted for the treatment of eczema, grease, 
mange, and scab. In the form of M'Dougall’s sheep-dipping 
composition, it has been favorably reported on by the Aus¬ 
tralian Government Commissioners appointed to investigate 
the spread and cure of scab in that colony. The Commis¬ 
sioners state that it has proved very successful, perfectly 
restoring the diseased skin to a healthy state, and causing 
the growth of w 7 ool on the parts previously scabbed. Carbo¬ 
lic acid is likewise the principal active constituent of M‘Dou- 
gall’s “ dipping composition 33 for sheep and lambs, possessing 
the several advantages of freedom from poisonous properties, 
readily destroying ticks, and preventing for a considerable 
period the attack of flies. Similar solutions prove serviceable 
in all animals for the destruction of lice and fleas. 
