Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cresolene
Introduction
Cresolene is a dark liquid with a pungent smell made from coal tar used in the 19th and early 20th century as a disinfectant[1] and to treat various ailments such as colds and measles. There was also a special ‘Vapo-Cresolene’ lamp used to heat the substance so that the fumes could be inhaled[2]