carbolic acid
Noun
Meaning
a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
Anansi Press. p. 129. ISBN 0-88784-181-3 Gemelli also speculated that his wounds were kept open with carbolic acid.
As the first two methods suggested by Pasteur were inappropriate for the treatment of human tissue, Lister experimented with the third, spraying carbolic acid on his instruments.
In 1867, Lister championed the use of carbolic acid as an antiseptic, such that it became the first widely used antiseptic in surgery.
He then covered the wounds with a piece of rag or lint citation covered in phenol, or carbolic acid as he called it.
Inspired by Louis Pasteur 's ideas on microbial infection, the English doctor Joseph Lister demonstrated in 1865 that use of carbolic acid on surgical dressings would significantly reduce rates of post-surgical infection.
He instructed surgeons under his responsibility to wear clean gloves and wash their hands before and after operations with 5% carbolic acid solutions.