carbolic
Old hospital smell
Carbolic refers to carbolic acid, a caustic compound once widely used as a disinfectant and antiseptic.
The smell of carbolic soap evokes old hospitals and institutional cleaning.
The room reeked of carbolic.
The term now sounds dated, as the chemical is more commonly called phenol.
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- asepsisAbsence of harmful microorganisms
- antisepsisPrevention of infection
sanitation · hygiene · decontamination · purification · bacteriostatic · antibacterial · antimicrobial · biocide
Aromatic hydroxyl compound
- organic chemistryStudy of carbon compounds
- molecular formulaNotation showing atomic composition
- chemical structureArrangement of bonded atoms
- distillationPurification via vaporization
Destroys by chemical action
- burnDamage by heat
- irritantSource of vexation
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
necrotic · caustic · chemical burn · poisonous · pungent · acrid · noxious · dangerous
Relating to operations
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- wound careTreatment of bodily injuries
- dressingSauce for salads
- gauzeOpen-weave medical fabric
bandage · operating room · infection prevention · treatment · physician · nurse · clinic · dilution
Sharply strong-smelling
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- acridUnpleasantly sharp-smelling
- distinctiveReadily identifiable, set apart
- hospital smellAntiseptic institutional aroma
tarry · smoky · recognizable · strong · penetrating · characteristic · nostalgic · old-fashioned
- VictorianOf a prim era
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
- operating theaterRoom for surgical procedures
- medical breakthroughSignificant advance in treatment
infection control · public health · pasteurization · preventive medicine · hospital reform · wound treatment · germ theory · Edinburgh
disinfectant
Agent destroying surface pathogens
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- asepsisAbsence of harmful microorganisms
antisepsis · sanitation · hygiene · decontamination · purification · bacteriostatic · antibacterial · antimicrobial · biocide · sanitizer
phenol
Aromatic hydroxyl compound
- organic chemistryStudy of carbon compounds
- molecular formulaNotation showing atomic composition
- chemical structureArrangement of bonded atoms
corrosive
Destroys by chemical action
harsh · necrotic · caustic · chemical burn · poisonous · pungent · acrid · noxious · dangerous · hazardous
surgical
Relating to operations
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- wound careTreatment of bodily injuries
- dressingSauce for salads
gauze · bandage · operating room · infection prevention · treatment · physician · nurse · clinic · dilution · swabbing
pungent
Sharply strong-smelling
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- acridUnpleasantly sharp-smelling
- distinctiveReadily identifiable, set apart
hospital smell · tarry · smoky · recognizable · strong · penetrating · characteristic · nostalgic · old-fashioned
Joseph Lister
- VictorianOf a prim era
- 19th centuryThe eighteen hundreds
- operating theaterRoom for surgical procedures
medical breakthrough · infection control · public health · pasteurization · preventive medicine · hospital reform · wound treatment · germ theory · Edinburgh