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CARBOLIC ACID. 213

When pure, it is in the form of colorless acicular, interlacing
crystals, which at 95° F. become an oily liquid, possessing a
strong odor and taste, closely resembling creasote, having similar
characters and properties, although it is a different substance.
Much of what is called creasote is nothing but impure carbolic
acid i^Jcidum Carbolicum Impurum)^ combined with two other sub-
stances, similar in constitution, and known as creasole and phosole.
Chemically considered, carbolic acid is an alcohol rather than
an acid, and its crystals readily absorb moisture on exposure to
the air, and are thus liquefied.
It crystallizes at 70° F., and becomes liquid at from 90° to
95° F., and fuses at 93° to 106°. It is freely soluble in alcohol,
ether, chloroform, glycerine and the essential oils. When car-
bolic acid is liquefied and discolored by exposure, it is difficult to
detect it from creasote, as it possesses the same odor, taste, caus-
tic properties, and a like affinity for albumen. Carbolic acid is
soluble in from twenty to twenty-three parts of water, the purest
being the most soluble. A small quantity of water will convert
it into the liquid state, but will not dissolve it. Water dissolves
six per cent, of carbolic acid and five parts dissolve in one part
of alcohol; four in one part of ether; three in one part of
chloroform ; seven in two parts of glycerine, and four in seven
parts of olive oil. It is also soluble in carbon disulphide, benzol
and fixed and volatile oils. The best quality of carbolic acid
contains two per cent, of water and should be hard and dry, with
no odor of creasote nor of volatile sulphur compounds. Crys-
tallized carbolic acid may be dissolved by a small quantity of
cologne water; and to prevent recrystallization and prepare it for
use (in the form of injections, for example), the bottle containing
it should be warmed by immersion in hot water, until it becomes
fluid, and about five per cent, of rectified alcohol, or a few drops
of glycerine, be added.
The red color which it assumes on exposure is thought to be
caused by the ammonia in the air, and also by the presence of
copper in the acid, which is affected by the ammonia of the at-
mosphere.
Medicinal Proper-ties and Jetton.— QdiVhoWc acid resembles crea-