As regards putrefactive odour :—Its appearance was delayed a few days by terebene (one experi ment), turpentine, and borax ; no putrefactive odour appeared where carbolic acid had been added ; the other substances had no effect.
A few experiments were made with the fluids after they had become putrid, by adding more of the antiseptic until the odour was removed, and then notiog when it again becarne perceptible. These indicated that terebene, cupralum, sodium salicylate, and McDougall's fluid rauk highest as deodorizers, while Condy's fluid and sanitas (aromatic, No. 3) have least power. But too much value must not be given to experiments which depend solely on the sense of smell, since it is very deceptive, and different observers disagree about odours. Indeal, in the case of McDougall's powder, which has a very disagreeable smell of its own, it was found impracticable to decide whether an additional odour of putrefaction was or was not present.
The medicinal applications of carbolic acid are numerous. It is used as a caustic ; for pul monary diseases ; in several skin diseases ; in the treatmeut of burns and scalds ; and in many other ways.
From a hygienic point of view, the uses and applications of carbolic acid are more general than those of any other article, or perhaps even than all the other agents taken together. The trifling disadvantage of its disagreeable odour is removed in proportion as the oils and other tarry matters are more perfectly separated ; and, in the best crystallized samples, there scarcely remains any odour at all, and that by no means disagTeeable to persons in general. All the evidence that can be collected goes to show that the odour and vapour are wholesome and never hurtful, even by pro longed exposure to a saturated atmosphere. It is said to be a tonic to those who work in it, and to have a general tendency to robust health. Its antiseptic or preservative powers have been long known, though hut recently investigated ; and generations of men have protected and preserved their meats and fish through its agency as derived from smoke. Small animals, insects, &c., killed
by it, dry up in the air without putrefaction ; hy its use, crawling insects of all kinds can be pre vented from attacking trees.
Its employment in stables, shippons, slaughterhouses, pigsties, kennels, middens, and privies, does not cause the manure to deteriorate. For foot and mouth disease, scab, and foot-rot, it is an efficacious remedy. By its use, the trade in skins and bones from Australia, South America, Scc., is being benefited. Often the refuse of cattle, especially the bones, come to this country in a half putrid state, emitting an insupportable odour, and fit only for manure ; with carbolic acid treatment, they arrive perfectly preserved, and can be employed for all the uses to which green or raw bones are usually applied, thus increasing their value very considerably. - Hides also frequently arrive putrid, although they have been dried or salted ; it is only necessary to immerse them for twenty-four hours in a solution of two per cent. of carbolic acid, and to dry them in the air, to secure their preservation. It is probable that, in a short time, the blood, intestines, and other parts of the animals slaughtered in such numbers in stock-raising countries, will be tTeated with carbolic acid, and shipped to this country for manure. The acid is already used ia the preservation of guts at the gut works ; for keeping anatomical preparations ; and for the preservation of all animal matter. It is also used for preventing the decomposition of tbe various albumen, flour, and starch thickeners used in calico printing, as well as for gelatine or borie size, employed for sizing fustains and other cotton goods.