46 LISTER'S PRINCIPLES OF ANTISEPTIC SURGERY 



and benzole acids, sodium chloride, and many metallic 

 solutions, carbolic acid was thoroughly effectual in destroy- 

 ing microzymes which had not formed spores, and from its 

 volatility it is frequently more serviceable than fixed anti- 

 septics. The infected threads, subjected to the influence of 

 even the least active of those antiseptics, produced only 

 scanty and retarded crops of bacilli. Such reliable anti- 

 septics as corrosive sublimate, bromine, and iodine, when 

 dissolved in alcohol, ether, or oil, were not nearly so effectual 

 as when dissolved in water. 



The following table by Miguel indicates the minimum 

 quantity of each antiseptic required to prevent putrefaction 

 of a litre of neutralised beef bouillon : 



Hydrogen peroxide gm. 0:05 Tannin .... gm. 4-80 



Mercuric chloride gm. 0*07 Arsenious acid . gm. 6*00 



Silver nitrate . . gm. 0*08 Boric acid . . . gm. 7*50 



Iodine .... gm. 0*25 Sodium salicylate gm. 10*00 



Copper sulphate . gm. 0*90 Sodium borate . gm. 70*00 



Salicylic acid . . gm. 1*00 Barium chloride . gm. 95 '80 



Potassium bichro- Alcohol .... gm. 95*00 



mate .... gm. 1'20 Potassium iodide gm. 150*00 



Zinc chloride . . gm. 1'90 Sodium chloride . gm. 165 '00 



Carbolic acid . . gm. 3'20 Glycerin . . . gm. 225*00 



Potassium perman- Sodium hyposul- 



ganate .... gm. 3*50 j phite .... gm. 275*00 



According to Christmas and Respaut, the best mixture, 

 as regards solubility and antiseptic power, consists of car- 

 bolic acid, grammes 9 ; salicylic acid, gramme 1 ; lactic 

 acid, grammes 2 ; and menthol, gramme 0*10 ; employed 

 in solution of one to four per cent. 



The uses of antiseptics. In surgery, zinc and iron 

 chlorides, pitch and tar, tinctures of myrrh, benzoin, and 

 other balsams have long been used empirically both in 

 human and veterinary practice. But Lord Lister has 

 explained and systematised the antiseptic treatment, and 

 rendered it both certain and successful. He studied fer- 

 mentative processes, and the analogous actions of micro- 

 organisms on living tissues ; and in 1867 inaugurated the 

 aseptic treatment of wounds. Two conditions, he insists, 



