A substance applied to humans or animals that retards or stops the growth of microorganisms without necessarily destroying them, e.g., alcohol; boric acid and borates; certain dyes, as acriflavine; menthol; hydrogen peroxide; hypochlorites; iodine; mercuric chloride; and phenol. Many of these are corrosive and poisonous, and should be used with great caution. Among the newer antiseptics are hexachlorophene, which is also toxic, and some quaternary ammonium compounds.
