276 PHYSIC 



the evacuation of the vesicles while the lymph is in its 

 transparent condition, or before it has had time to become 

 purulent, and the sterilisation of the interior of the 

 vesicles by the introduction of an antiseptic, or what we 

 may call bacillicide, might be effective. 



This I have sought to do by combining in one instru- 

 ment an aspirator and injector, the barrels of which unite 

 in a single doubly tubular needle designed for insertion 

 into the vesicles. 



The needle having been introduced, the vesicle is 

 emptied as far as possible, and, to a certain extent, refilled 

 with the antiseptic. 



The choice of this antiseptic is a matter of some 

 difficulty, and is still to a certain extent in the experi- 

 mental stage. It may be laid down, however, as an 

 axiom, that the principles guiding the choice should be 

 efficiency as a germicide, with innocuousness to the subject 

 of treatment. 



The instrument has already been subjected to the test 

 of clinical experience in the treatment of smallpox, but 

 to too limited an extent to enable me to lay down anything 

 like final directions. 



It seems to me further, that the principle of simul- 

 taneous or continuous evacuation and sterilisation (as 

 embodied in the instrument) is capable of widely extended 

 use in the treatment of abscesses, superficial and deep, 

 and in emptying accumulations, morbid and otherwise, of 

 liquid materials almost anywhere within the body. 



The pistons of the instrument, it ought to be men- 

 tioned, may be operated by either screw or traction 

 movement according to the size of the cavity to be 

 evacuated and the nature of the contents. 



One of the great advantages claimed for the instrument 

 is, that only one insertion is necessary to effect both 

 evacuation and sterilisation. 



