Did anyone in this abominable thread mention that carbolic acid is diluted phenol?
Did anyone mention that phenol was the first disinfectant used in operating rooms by spraying it as a mist? The net effect on mixing with water is to form this powerful disinfectant which was found to prevent postoperative deaths. The downside is that everyone had to wear thick masks and rubber gloves.
Could it be that the young Pio of Pietralcina was simply using this as a disinfectant akin to iodine since he feared his wounds would become infected? Why is the implication that he used the carbolic acid to render wounds in his hands?
Finally, carbolic acid will cause BURNS. Anyone with a phenol burn can attest to that (got one on my hand). Those look a bit different from nail wounds.
Oh, the humanity...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol