saprol

English

Noun

saprol (uncountable)

1. (archaic, medicine) A dark brown oily compound containing phenol, creosol, and other hydrocarbons such as coal tar products, used as a disinfectant.
   • 1898, Albion G. Young, Notes on Disinfectants and Disinfection, page 170:

     The value of saprol as a disinfectant for human excreta has been investigated by Laser. It being lighter than water floats upon the surface of fluids which, from the supernatant layer dissolve phenol, cresol, and other coal-tar products which are soluble in water.

Anagrams

• parols, polars, prosal, sporal