ABSTRACT
The disinfectant, bactericidal and fungicidal properties of individual cresols and mixed cresol or cresylic acids had been well known for the last 60 years or so. So much so that within the recommended doses as prescribed by WHO cresols were used in the manufacture of carbolic soaps. Cresols were also used in place of phenol as disinfectant in domestic applications. They were also used as wood preservatives. As mentioned earlier para-chloro-meta-cresol is now one of the preferred preservatives for leather goods.
