Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
April,  1890.  j 
Phenol  Sodique. 
Dissolve  the  soda  in  the  water,  add  the  carbolic  acid  and  warm 
gently  until  it  is  dissolved. 
This  formula  is  based  upon  that  for  Liquor  Natri  Carbolici,  form- 
erly officinal  in  the  German  Pharmacopoeia,  and  yields  a  prepara- 
tion containing  50  per  cent,  of  crystallized  carbolic  acid,  and  having 
no  resemblance  to  the  proprietary  article  sold  under  the  same  name 
in  such  large  quantities,  and  not  infrequently  an  ingredient  in  pre- 
scriptions, at  least  in  this  locality. 
This  proprietary  article,  originating  in  France,  and  also  made  by 
a  manufacturing  house  in  Philadelphia,  is  largely  used  as  a  disin- 
fectant and  as  an  antiseptic  applied  to  wounds  and  cuts,  as  a  gargle, 
tooth  wash,  in  dentistry  and  in  injections,  and  the  substitution  of 
the  preparation  of  the  National  Formulary,  where  the  proprietary 
was  intended,  would  prove  a  serious  error. 
The  formula  of  the  German  Pharmacopoeia  has  been  copied  into 
the  various  standard  works,  such  as  the  U.  S.  and  National  Dis- 
pensatories and  Hager's  Pharmaceutische  Praxis.  The  only  other 
formula  which  my  search  revealed  was  in  The  Extra  Pharmacopoeia, 
of  Martindale  and  Westcott,  where  the  following  statement  occurs  : 
"  Carbolic  acid  is  freely  soluble  in  caustic  alkaline  solutions,  and  a 
French  specialty,  known  as  Phenol  Sodique,  is  much  used  as  an 
antiseptic  solution  by  dentists.  Its  composition  is  about  as  follows  : 
Liquor  Sodii  Carbolatis,  :  phenol,  8  ;  caustic  soda,  4  ;  distilled 
water,  100." 
This  formula  also  yields  a  preparation  much  stronger  than  the 
proprietary  article.  A  sample  of  the  latter,  made  in  this  city, 
showed  the  following  characteristics  :  A  thin,  dark  colored,  almost 
black,  liquid,  sp.  gr.  1-015,  an  alkaline  reaction.  On  agitating,  a 
great  quantity  of  foam  is  produced.  It  contains  66  per  cent,  of 
tarry  matters  and  about  one  per  cent,  of  phenols,  which  are  not 
separated  in  diluting  with  water,  and  nearly  1*5  per  cent,  of  soda. 
The  following  formula  yielded  a  preparation  very  similar  : 
Take  of  coal  tar,   2  troy  ounces. 
Soda,  120  grains. 
Water,  sufficient  to  make  one  pint. 
Dissolve  the  soda  in  4  fluid  ounces  of  water  and  warm,  add  the 
coal  tar  and  thoroughly  agitate  the  mixture  for  a  few  minutes. 
Then  add  the  remainder  of  the  water  and  set  aside  in  a  covered 
vessel  in  a  warm  place,  frequently  agitating  for  7  days.    Decant  the 
