In 1865 Joseph Lister began using carbolic acid as this, from the Latin for "against putrefaction"
339 ..... We c an use our kn owledge O f i t both to avert an d 
to relieve ..... town s con tain s so triflin g an excess of carbon ic acid ; but ...... 
without the addition Of the carbolic acid now so much relied ..... if there be a w
ound, by providin g against putrefaction and germs : ..... Lister' s able papers can 
doubt.