230 
DISINFECTANTS  IN  ARRESTING  CATTLE  PLAGUE. 
As  it  is  our  chief  aim  to  destroy  the  activity  of  cattle  plague 
virus,  (the  destruction  of  ordinary  farm-yard  odors  being  of 
secondary  importance,)  even  sulphurous  acid  is  open  to  objection 
on  the  score  of  waste ;  but  carbolic  acid  goes  direct  to  the  root 
of  the  evil,  and  acts  solely  where  it  is  most  required,  without 
touching  the  innocuous  dunghill  stenches.  Owing  to  the  power 
possessed  by  carbolic  acid  of  arresting  and  preventing  decompo- 
sition, it  checks  the  evolutions  of  these  offensive  odors,  and,  by 
retaining  the  nitrogenous  compounds  in  the  manure,  it  greatly 
increases  its  value.  At  the  same  time  it  stops  the  development  in 
the  manure  of  minute  animal  organisms,  and  it  has  been  observed 
that  flies  never  congregate  about  dunghills  where  carbolic  acid 
has  been  habitually  used  (100),  whilst  the  liquid  manure  which 
oozes  from  them  is  without  smell.  In  stables  and  cowsheds  this 
property  is  of  very  great  importance,  both  as  regards  the  com- 
fort and  health  of  the  animals,  especially  during  the  hot  summer 
months. 
45.  Another  advantage  of  carbolic  acid,  over  almost  all  other 
disinfecting  agents,  consists  in  the  fact  that  its  vapor  is  never 
injurious  or  unpleasant  to  cattle.  Indeed,  they  seem  to  like  it ; 
they  lick  the  woodwork  of  their  stalls,  after  it  has  been  sprinkled 
with  the  undiluted  acid  (69),  and  will  readily  drink  water  in 
which  the  acid  has  been  dissolved.  If  applied  to  their  mouths 
in  its  undiluted  state,  I  am  told  that  it  will  produce  temporary 
blistering ;  but  such  blisters  are  entirely  free  from  danger,  and 
heal  very  rapidly.  From  its  action  on  the  human  skin,  if  care- 
lessly used,  I  have  no  doubt  that  inconvenience  to  the  cattle 
might  arise ;  but  although  carbolic  acid  has  been  used  freely  by 
me,  and  by  many  farm  servants  under  my  direction,  in  the 
treatment  of  several  hundred  animals,  I  have  not  had  a  single 
instance  of  this  action  brought  under  my  personal  notice. 
If  undiluted  carbolic  acid  is  allowed  to  remain  on  the  hands, 
it  will  act  as  a  mild  caustic.  This  inconvenience  is,  however, 
very  slight,  and  may  be  avoided  with  ordinary  care.  I  have  had 
my  hands  repeatedly  covered  with  carbolic  acid  during  the  last 
four  months,  without  experiencing  any  painful  effects.  Ample 
warning  of  the  approach  of  blistering  is  given  by  a  preliminary 
smarting,  and  if  this  is  attended  to,  and  the  acid  rubbed  or  washed 
