The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-07
Picnic Acid as n Disintectant.

At recent meeting OF the Agricultural Society
oi France, M. Chevreu showed that picnic acid
Is not dlsintectant in the same degree as chic
rine, but that it prevents the decomposition OF
bodies with which it is brought In contact. EX-
tensive use is made of this material to destroy
the odor OF stables. A white powder, consisting
of a mixture of phenate of lime and sulphite of
soda is prepared and sold for the purpose. One
quarter OF an ounce a day to each horse,
sprinkled in the stalls, is sufficient to totally
destroy the odor of the place. In England the
cost per head does not exceed two dollars
year. Its employment on board of vessels or
cars used tor the transportation of animals
would prove Of the utmost value, and IN some
countries is largely praCtised
M. Lemare has shown that small quantity
OF picnic acid, benZine, and analine sutfices to
destroy microphytes and a large number OF ami
mails belonging to the radiata, insects, mollusks,
and vertebrate; in act all OF the lower animals
fly from the odor of these substances. An
aqueous solution containing one per cent. of
picnic acid instantly destroys the itch insect.
In the case of insects destructive to vegetation
it cannot be employed upon the leaves as it de-
strOys both the plant and the animal at the
same time, but mixed with coal-tar, earth, and
sand it can be applied some distance from the
roots.
When picnic acid is introduced into the earth
or heap OF manure, animals which appeared
to be devoid Of animation suddenly wake up
and disappear with marvellous rapidity, and by
lmpreenatlng the air of granary or magazine
in which wheat or meat is kept all insects are
excluded. The odor of the acid disappears very
rapidly on exposure of the grain or meat to the
air, SO that no trace of it remains. 1t thus ap
pears that Tor stables, granaries, magazines,
and all places liable to be infested by insects or
lower animals, phenIc acid is one of the safest
and most economical of the remedies hitherto
proposed The bisuphlde OF carbon, which
has very similar effects upon animal life, is
itself 80 disgusting as to preclude its use near
human habitations. 1t has, however, been eX-
tensively employed in granaries to destroy the
weevll, and for the vaporzng of seed previous
TO sowing.
Benzole, benzne, coal naptha, coal tar, some
varieties of petroleum, and the products of the
distillation of pit coal, gum benzoin, and of
some kinds of rOsln, yield picnic acid in greater
or less quantities. The value OF coal tar as
disinfeCtant can be traced to this source. Picnic
acid is sometimes called carbolc acid, hydrate
of phenyl and phenol. 1t is capable Of very
extensive application, and may be produced
cheaply.
Coffee grounds have also dislfecting pro-
perty, and have long been used in the sick room
and Tor the publication Of the air OF hospitals
Whether the oil of wintergreeu would destroy
the larvae OF insects Las never been observed
but as the distillation of this class OF bodies
yields phenic acid, it would be worthy of a trial
1t may be that destructive distlllation is neces-
sary in order TO prepare the peculiar principle
so obnoxious to the lower animals.