ANTISEPTICS— PAST AND PRESENT 55 



others, I cannot believe that among the host of agents 

 that are introduced yearly, one possesses any special 

 virtues over another so far as the healing of wounds is 

 concerned. 



In conclusion, I think the practical deduction to be 

 drawn is that everv attempt should be made to exclude 

 infection from wounds, whenever this is possible, and, 

 in the case of wounds already infected, to retard the 

 growth and development of micro-organisms by the judi- 

 cious employment of antiseptics. 



But whether in the case of operation or of accidental 

 wounds, it is quite apparent that in ordinary practice 

 we cannot dispense with antiseptics, and attempts to 

 do so are likely to be followed by disaster. 



