are practically ineradicable from it, and it must be supposed that their development is inhibited by the antiseptics applied to the wound during and after the operation. Conclusions.-1. Large operation wounds may heal as perfectly, in a clinical sense, when dressed with sterilized materials not containing any antiseptic agents as when treated with antiseptic dressings. 2. Large aseptic operation wounds, dressed simply with sterilized cotton-wool, heal generally by first intention. 3. The secretions of wounds, healing without any suppuration whatever, contain microbes, as a rule, whether the dressing contains bactericide agents, or consists simply of sterilized materials. 4. Wounds containing microbes (abscesses, etc.), dressed simply with sterilized cotton-wool, may pursue a course identical with that which they would have pursued had they been treated with antiseptic dressings. The logical issue of the investigation would be the recommendation of sterilized cotton-wool as the best form of dressing. For private operations, where two intelligent persons can divide the work between them, it is available with full security. But in large hospitals, where the carrying out of details is divided among a number of persons, a certain security is gained by the addition of an antiseptic agent. For this reason the author recommends the treatment of wounds by carbolic acid, with the modification that the outer layer of the dressing shall be not of macintosh, but of sterilized non-absorbent cotton-wool.—Glasgow Medical Journal, June, 1890. Pyoktannin is the Name of a New Bactericide. It is the well-known methylanilin used by the microscopists as a staining agent in bacteriological work. It was first employed as a therapeutic agent in Germany, where it was used as a local application to sloughing ulcers of the cornea. It is said to interfere materially with the suppurative process, and to greatly accelerate the separation of sloughs and healing. It is also said to exert a wonderful effect when applied to the surface of chronic indolent ulcers, whatever be their cause. It is claimed that by its use chronic purulent discharges cease altogether, even when other antiseptics have been used without avail. It is applied by means of a pencil in bulk, the material being spread well over the entire diseased area. It gives no pain, and is extremely gratifying to the patient. The virtues of pyoktannin are highly extolled by Dr. Adolph Kessler, of this city (New York), who considers it the "ideal antiseptic and pus destroyer."-Cor. Va. Med. Mo. A New Test for Albumin in Urine. The following tests have been published by Zouchlos (Rundschan, 1890) and are recommended on account of their simplicity and accuracy. A solution of one part of acetic acid, and six parts of one per cent. solution of corrosive sublimate is prepared; to this the suspected urine is slowly added, which at once produces a distinct cloudiness. This test is not affected by peptones, uric acid, or the phosphates. A still more delicate test than the above has also been proposed by Zouchlos. Three ounces of a ten per cent. solution of rhodium potash, with six drachms of acetic acid; of this a few drops is added to the suspected urine. If albumin is present, there is at once formed a distinct cloudiness, which is insoluble in excess of the solution.- Va. Medical Monthly. Mortality From Phthisis in Switzerland. Statistics of mortality in Switzerland for the decade from 1876 to 1886 show: 1. That phthisis is endemic in Switzerland, no canton being exempt from it. 2. That mortality from phthisis decreases with altitude, but not in the same proportion. 3. That the death-rate from phthisis increases in direct proportion to the number of the manufacturing population. 4. That at the same altitude the manufacturing cantons show a considerably higher death-rate than the agricultural. 5. That with an equal manufacturing population mortality is somewhat less in the high than in the low land cantons. Marine Hospital Bureau Reports. Formulæ for the Preparation of Surgical Materials. By F. W. Parham, M.D., Visiting Surgeon, Charity Hospital, New Orleans, being the substance of a lecture delivered before the Polyclinic Class. A.-SOLUTIONS. I. Acid Sublimate Solution (Dr. Ernest Laplace's suggestion). 1. The concentrated solution, as per following: R Hydrarg. chlorid. corrosiv., Div. Acidi hydrochlorici c. p., 3 vj. Aquæ, q. s. ad. Zviij. M. S. Each ounce contains 10 grains HgCl2. 2 The irritating solution: One ounce of the concentrated solution with water q. s. ad. Oij. will be 1 to 1536, which is convenient, because easy to prepare extemporaneously: called 1 to 1500 solution. Other solutions may be made from this by adding any desired quantity of water. Uses: For hermetically sealing aseptic wounds. N. B.-If kept on too long may vesicate severely. VI. Aseptic Salt Solution (6 per mille solution). R Sodii chloridi, gr. xlvj. Aquæ,, q. s. að. Oj. M. S. Boil for one-half hour. Keep in a Florence flask, stopped with sterilized cotton. Uses: 1. Where an antiseptic solution is considered objectionable, or for the final washing of a previously antiseptically-washed wound. 2. For saline transfusion, raise to a blood-temperature. N. B. It is well to filter this solution before boiling, especially if to be used for the second purpose. VII. Alcoholic Ether Solution of Iodoform.* R Alcoholis et etheris partes equales Iodoformi (vide B I.) q. s. ad. sol. sat. M. S. To be kept closely corked. Uses: For keeping silk (vide D II.) and catgut (vide D I.) N. B.- Should be changed occasionally, owing to generation of iodine. Silk kept in this solution for a long time is more easily broken. Best prepared in small quantities. VIII. Alcoholic watery Solution of Sublimate. R Hydrarg. chlorodi corrosiv., gr. v. Aquæ, iij. 3 ij. Alcoholis, q. s. ad. Oj. M. S. Solution of 200 parts water and 800 parts alcohol, originally sug gested by Bergmann for sterilizing and keeping catgut. Uses: 1. drains. For preserving rubber 2. Sterilize in the Arnold sterilizer, or by boiling in ordinary kettle onehalf hour. 3. Keep in solution A VIII. Uses: For ordinary drainage purposes N. B.-If softer tubes are wanted, keep in solution carbolic, A II. III. Glass Drains. Sterilize by boiling, and keep in solution A I. (2) or A II. IV. Bone Drains. 1. Prepare tubes by boring and trimming into cylindrical form, or select smooth chicken bones. 2. Clean well after boiling. 3. Decalcify in 10 per cent. solution HCI. 4. Keep in solution A IX. without any water. Uses: When drainage for only a few hours will be required, as these tubes collapse easily in serum. V. Capillary Drains. 1. Horse hair should be cleaned first with soap and water and afterward 1. Select catgut of several sizes. 2. Cut into one-foot lengths. 3. Place in ether five (5) days. (4) Place in Bergmann's solution A VIII. ten (10) days. (5) Keep in alcoholic ether solution of iodoform (see A VIII.) N. B.-This softens quickly when put into water at time of operating. II. Silk. 1. Cut into one-foot lengths. N. B. Sutures thus kept a long time become weaker, but are aseptically reliable and strong if prepared in smaller quantities more frequently. Wet Antiseptic Dressings. 1. Bleached cheesecloth or unbleached, deprived of fat by boiling with caustic soda or lye. Boiling with soft soap will help; wash out alkali. 2. Keep in solution A I. (2) for use. Uses: For stuffing septic wounds. II. Dry Aseptic Gauze or Cotton. 1. Boil the antiseptic gauze in sufficient quantity of plain filtered water. 2. Pour off water and continue heat till dry. 3. Keep in jars covered with subli mate cotton. III. Dry Antiseptic Gauze or Cotton. 1. Prepare the wet gauze as in E I. 2. Dry slowly over moderate heat. IV. Cloths for Field of Operation. 1. Old cotton cloths, not useful in any other way. 2. Wash thoroughly by boiling. 3. Keep as in EI. N. B.-If used for laying instru ments on to, should be washed off in carbolic solution. V. Cloths for Sponging. Prepare as in I., or as in II., according to indications. VI. Sterilized Iodoform Gauze. 1. Use gauze as prepared in II, 2. Saturate a given weight of gauze with the quantity of iodoform (dissolved in solution A III.) required to make 10 per cent. (or 20 per cent.) gauze. 3. Open out and evaporate ether at moderate heat. 4. Stuff in bottles, tent-fashion. Uses: As protective, or for stuffing cavities, especially suppurating and tubercular. The gauzes more difficult to make had best be purchased, such as Lister's latest gauze of double cyanide of mercury and zinc. 8. Put in 1 per cent. solution oxalic acid. 9. Put in HCl solution for a minute. 10. If not free of permanganate repeat 8 and 9. Wash thoroughly. 11. Keep in solution A I. (2) or A II. N. B.-If left in HCl too long, the sponges will be too soft to be serviceable. G. TO MAKE THE HANDS ASEPTIC. Furbringer's Method: 1. Wash and scrub well with warm water and soap. (The sapo viridis U. S. P. is very efficient and nice.) 2. Wash off the soap with alcohol (or ether). 3. Before the alcohol (or ether) is dry, wash in the antiseptic solution. N. B. The carbolic solution 3 per cent. A II. is efficient and does not offer the objection, which is the case with the bichloride, of forming the black sulphide deposit in the nails. H. TO DISINFECT THE FIELD OF OPERATION. 1. Shave a broad area. 2. Wash well with soft soap and brush. 3. Wash off with alcohol or ether. 4. Wash with carbolic solution A II. or bichloride solution A I (2.) 5. Place cloths (see E IV.) about, so as to protect from contact with all septic surfaces. N. B.-In some cases, where there is much dead epithelium, a dressing of soft soap, diluted with oil, might with advantage be applied, for twentyfour hours or longer, to remove the scurf and facilitate the disinfection. Infected wounds must be disinfected by repeated irrigations and applications of wet dressings.-N. O. Med. and Surg. Journal, Dr. A. Dobisch, in Allgemein. Mediz. Central-Zeit., employs the following proceeding for inducing local anesthesia: R. Chlorof., 10.0; ether, 15.0; menthol, 1.0-M. Apply rapidly for about one minute with a Richardson spraying apparatus. Having produced anesthesia after this formula, Dobisch has performed (1) opening of deep-seated felon; (2) evacua |