The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-08-25
CoAL TAR As a ANTIsEpTIc.

COAL TAR Az An AAAtSEEIACs
Nh. James 4. Cliff. West Bromwich,
England, writing to the British L5Ue
Stock Journal of the very valuable quail
tiles Of coal-tar and its derivative, car
bolic acid. as antiseptic. disenfectants,
and as being very destructive TO paTaSl-
tical life. gives the general outlines OF
the purpose to which he considers them
applicable. leaving farmers aad others to
draw their own conclusions as to what
may be the best use to make of them in
any particular case
EeThere is no doubt that the presence
of carbolic acid in coal tar is the cause
of its utility as a disinfectant, and al
though for many purposes carbolic acid
would be preferable if not essential,
still there are many cases in which coal
tar is quite as effectual and far more
easily applied, As an antiseptic L have
seen many cases of wounds being pre-
vented from purifying or becoming fly
brown by timely application. When
by neglect they have become putrid, or
even swaIming with lice or maggOts,
smeaTing OF two Of tar has soon caused
them to assume a healthy tone. Malig-
nant sores, such as foot rot or foul in
the foot, are quickly brought into a
healthy condition, and the disease is
ing the application until the skin is re-
placed, as from the greasy nature Of tar
it forms a plaster on the wound, preyen-
ting mud and dirt coming in contact
which greatly impede recovery.
As a disiufeCtaut coal tar is very ser
viceable in all buildings in which live
stock ale kept, and is very easily applied
by painting with iJ all the wood work
or indeed walls as well, il light is not an
object. All foul gases and Objectionable
smell. putrid and unwholesome matter
are quickly overcome and Ttndered harm
less, and at the same time insects and
PARISHES which usually infeSt such plac-
eS are Immediately destroyed. For a
great many purposes no doubt coal tar
would be Objectionable, and in such ca
ses carbOlic acid, in some of its forms is
to be preferred.
''As have said, the acid is the effec-
tive principle of the tar and may be re-
lied upon to serve all purposes thor
oughly. As an antiseptic ointment for
Sores in exposed places on light cOlOred
animals or on pets in which coal tar
would look uncleanly or unSightly the
acid, in varied proportions with lard.
olive oil. or other suitable ointment as
a basis, forms a safe and effectual appli-
cation. l have also used it successfully
internally in a case of canker in the
mouth of a COW by a suitable dilution
with glycerine and water Disinfecting
powder issanOtheT useful form in which
the acid can be employed, as it is not SO
unsightly as the tar when scattered on
the floors and walls, and little, used
frequently, quickly deOdOrizes and puri-
fies its surroundings.
again, its use as q fumigator has
tice. / believe that in this form its ef-
feet is most marked. A little acid put
ON a heated shovel mot red hot) Will
quickly deodOriZe and disinfect a large
building, as the fumes ascend, and pen
citrate all nOoks and creYiceS. Another
form OF the same process is to keep
boiling a small vessel filled with water,
and frequently add quantity of carbOl-
iC acid. when the steam viii disseminate
the fumes with equal effect 1t was
the knowledge of the effective nature of
carbOiic acid in this form as a diSinfect-
ant which first induced me to write
these abrupt notes, thinking they might
be o. service, more particularly in cases
of pleurO-pn pneumonia, in which inhala-
would be more likely than any other
treatment to prove successful.
my practice in cases requiring inter-
nal application has been to dissolve the
acid in glyceTine and water, and TO di-
Lutte until as strong as the mouth can
bear without a burning sensation, when
it may be administered with safety to
any one of our domestic animals. For
outward use l have one part acid to ten
Of lard, olive oil, or other suitable oint-
ment while, for disinfecting purposes,
a common quality may be used, with
from five to ten times its bulk to water
It will be Well-knOwn to most of your
readers that coal tar may be obtained
where the manufacture OF gas is carried
or while carbolic. although certainly
more of a monopoly, is manufactured on
a large scale III various parts of the
kingdom, and can be procured from any
druggists. ="