New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-21
TIRE USES OF C4RBOLIC ACID.
A CHEAP CONGRATULATIONS FOR
LYDDITE AND SALICYLIC ACID

LYDDITE AND SALICXLIC ACID.
The statement made 4 few days ago that Eng
lana had cut of the supply Of carboic acid
from the rest Of the world. because she wanted
Il for use IN making Iyddite shells, puzzled a
good many people, who could not see what car
bolic acid had 10 do with lyddite- But the
mystery disappears when one learns that the
principal constituent OF that now famous ex-
posiva IS picric acid. and that pieric acid is
mad ont Of car50lic acid. Moreover, it proves
that ,-s manufacture Of the latter commodity
is carried on 10 only q limited extent outside
OF England.
The reason for this is not obvious. CarboIic
acid IS q coal tar 5erivative. and coal tar is
to be had the world over. Germany is noted
to- her chemical Industries, yet imports from
England most OF the carbolic acid she con-
sL1as- There are one 1r TWO manufacturers in
The United States. 100. mat produce it They
make an article Of The best quality, the exrerts
say but a. present The output IS not It all equal
10 the needs OF this country.
Car5oE1 acid r. usually made as a by-product
IN establish. ents where other substances are
the primary considerations. Ammonia IS another
s1ch incidental feature Of The industry one
OF the leading manufacturers # carboIic acid
III England is the Gas Light and Coke Com
pa1y " London. The process of making il IS
not a. All difficult, but rather large and costly
plant Is required for economical production.
The chief use II a pacific nature 70 which
car5a-r acid IS put is that # q disinfectant
SURG rs employ solution Of It 10 render their
Instruments thoroughly antise7zfc before under
taxing an operation IN hospitals and private
medical practice il has numerous. apDlications
o. q kindred nature. Il is cheap and efficient. A
-----7 CT il goes great way. It's only important
industrial use, probably. is in the manufacture
o. sa-lcELc acid This particular line Of bust
ness VIII be seriously afec-ad for time. be-
cause II = practically impossible 10 find a sub
s-----e for carboIic acid For dIsinfecting pur-
poses number Of other agents can be used ad-
Tan-age0usIy
F@rAaps the most popular disinfectants, next
after the one which now threatens to become
scarce temporarily, are the chlorides Of lime and
naS-esia- and the bi-chloride Of mercury. or
corrosive sublimate. The one last mentioned is
used by surgeons almost as much as carbolic
acid Then there are boric and saIicyIic acids.
extensively used as food personalities. has
much as the manufacture Of saIicyIic acid is
dependent upon carbolic acid, Of course there is
a chance that It VIII become unavailable for a
tine Ammonia, toe, s z disinfectant, as well
as great cleanser. Much Of the ammonia con
surned il America comes from abroad, but a
considerable quantity is made here, and no
=-Ens OF scarcity are TO be detected as yet Men
-Lll, an aromatic darivative Of peppermint also
has antseptc, # not actively disinfecting prop
critics So has thymOl- These agents are among
me benefcent constituents Of Iisterine
The retail druggists profess 10 be far from
alarmed al the prospect Of a scant supply Of
cz--1-.c acid They hint that other substances
can - found 10 take its place. and they add that
II any serious advance in price, such as a jump
from = To so cents q pound, occurs, the Ameri-
can output VIII be increased TO meet the demand.
= little time may be required to provide for such
e Embellishments