Important: Safety Warning
This page gives first-aid or emergency advice that predates modern medicine and can make an emergency worse. Do not follow it. In any medical emergency, call emergency services and follow current first-aid guidance.
This page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Infection and Disinfection: Carbolic
No. 4. Standard Solution of Carbolic Acid. - Carbolic acid is one of the most generally useful disinfectants in the sick room, but is rather expensive when properly used and its odor is objectionable to some persons.
Carbolic acid may be used dissolved in water in a strength from a 2 per cent (weak) to a 5 per cent (strong) solution. For a 5 per cent solution add 1 pint or pound of either the crude or purified liquid carbolic acid to 24 gallons of hot water, or about 6 ounces to the gallon. Stir frequently until no red or colorless droplets remain in the bottom of the mixture. The keeping power and efficiency of this solution may be increased by the addition of 12 to 14 ounces of common salt to each gallon, when used for the disinfection of excreta or other uses where the salt is not objectionable. Use this 5 per cent solution in the same way and for the same purposes as Standard Solution No. 1 of Chloride of Lime.
Use one-half strength, i. e., diluted in an equal quantity of water (2½ per cent solution) for the tub in which body or bed linen is immersed. Also for washing woodwork, floors and other hard surfaces and for the hands and person. Immerse fabrics four hours, then rinse and boil for half an hour.
Antidote. Carbolic acid, like bichloride of mercury, is a violent cor- INFECTION AND DISINFECTION rosive poison. Hence take great care to see that it is properly labeled and kept out of reach of children. In case of poisoning send for a physician at once, but do not wait until he arrives. Diluted alcohol is the best antidote. Give this in the form of whisky, brandy or cologne water, if pure alcohol is not at hand. Do not use wood alcohol, which is itself poisonous. Epsom salts or glauber salts, in doses of one tablespoonful, rank next to alcohol as antidotes. All cases, however, require the immediate attendance of a physician. Olive oil, castor oil and glycerine are also antidotes for carbolic acid. Try to provoke vomiting so as to empty the stomach. For this purpose give mustard and water, salt and water or tickle the back of the throat.