296  CarhoUc  Acid  in  Poivder  Form,  {'^V^rdm!"' 
was  deemed  probable,  therefore,  that  each  powder  was  intended  to 
contain  about  15  grains  of  bromide  of  potassium,  and  about  5  grains 
of  powdered  gentian  root.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  latter  is 
added  mainly  for  the  purpose  of  altering  the  appearance  of  the 
coarsely  powdered  bromide  of  potassium. 
Although  there  is  perhaps  nothing  strictly  injurious  in  this  patent 
medicine,  if  we  except  the  annoying  skin  disease  occasionally  follow- 
ing the  continued  use  of  bromide  of  potassium,  it  still  remains  an 
anomalous  fact  that  the  same  remedy,  in  the  elFects  of  which  the 
highest  medical  authorities  are  so  often  disappointed,  is  thus  so  boast- 
ingly  put  forth  as  a  never-failing  specific. 
CARBOLIC  ACID  IN  POWDER  FORM. 
By  Chas.  0.  CuRTMAN,  M.  D.,  Prof,  of  Chemistry  Mo.  Med.  College. 
The  well-deserved  favor  in  which  carbolic  acid  is  held  by  the  pro- 
fession has  resulted  in  a  wide-spread  application  of  its  different  forms^ 
as  disinfectants,  among  the  public.  By  passing  into  such  general  use, 
however,  some  difficulties  have  manifested  themselves,  and  some  acci- 
dents have  occurred,  owing  to  the  inexperience  of  many  who  now 
handle  this  energetic  preparation. 
The  most  common  form  in  which  it  has  heretofore  been  supplied  to 
the  public  for  purposes  of  disinfection  is  that  of  a  concentrated  solu- 
tion of  the  crude  acid,  containing  a  large  percentage  of  cresylic  acid, 
some  rosolic  acid,  and  more  or  less  of  pyrogenous  oils.  This  prepa- 
ration is  quite  corrosive,  even  when  moderately  diluted,  and  cases  are 
not  unfrequent  in  which  deep  ulcerations  of  the  integuments,  and 
even  acute  poisoning,  have  resulted  from  its  careless  employment. 
In  its  application  to  the  destruction  of  the  larger  parasites  it 
requires  considerable  concentration,  so  that  it  will  not  destroy  such 
animals  as  aphides  and  plant-lice  without  injuring,  more  or  less,  the 
plants  themselves  which  those  pests  of  the  garden  infest. 
Some  time  ago  the  Messrs.  G.  Mallinckrodt  &  Co.,  chemical  manu- 
facturers of  this  city,  supplied  to  me  a  preparation  in  which  a  dry 
argillaceous  powder  is  used  as  a  diluent  of  the  acid  instead  of  water, 
and  the  experiments  made  with  this  and,  for  comparison,  with  the 
aqueous  solution,  have  satisfied  me  that  this  mode  of  preparing  the 
carbolic  acid  for  general  use  in  dry  form  has  some  very  decided 
advantages  over  the  common  solutions. 
