232 ON RECENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE 



it the moistened boracic lint, any crusts of inspissated discharge on the sur- 

 rounding skin being afterwards washed away at leisure with the lotion. When 

 the dressing is next changed, the red ring of youngest cicatrix will probably be 

 already apparent around each white epidermic islet. 



The trifling wound on the arm which furnished the grafts is treated, like the 

 sore, with protective and boracic Hnt, and, if these be properly secured, a scar 

 will be found in its place when the part is exposed after the lapse of a few days. 

 To be able thus to treat recent abrasions with a single application, which 

 may be left undisturbed for an indefinite period, is often a matter of great con- 

 venience, especially in the case which so frequently presents itself where such 

 superficial injuries are present as complications of simple fracture. Here, 

 without antiseptic management, troublesome sores are liable to form, requiring 

 frequent disturbance of the sphnts to gain access to them for daily dressing. 

 But after washing the part with (i to 20) carbohc lotion, and applying the 

 dressing of protective and boracic lint, the abrasions may be dismissed from 

 further consideration. 



It is, of course, essential for the success of this dressing that it should be 

 kept accurately in position. In the case of abrasion in fracture this is probably 

 ensured by the presence of the splints, and in large sores upon the legs it is 

 readily done by means of a bandage, especially one made of the antiseptic gauze, 

 which, as before observed, is less apt to shift its place than a common cotton 

 roller. But for small dressings in any situation, and especially about the face, 

 where bandages cannot well be used, it will be found very convenient to fix the 

 boracic lint by means of collodion applied to the edges of a piece of cotton cloth 

 of open texture, sufficiently large to overlap the skin on all sides around the 

 lint. The cloth used for making the antiseptic gauze answers the purpose very 

 well, only it must be employed unprepared, because the resin and paraffin of 

 the prepared gauze would prevent the ether of the collodion from evaporating. 

 In absence of the unprepared gauze, a piece of ordinary rag may be used, if 

 the edges are frayed out sufficiently to give the collodion a proper hold upon 

 the skin. 



The boracic lint may often be employed with great advantage as a moist 

 application, soaked with the boracic lotion, and covered with gutta-percha 

 tissue or oiled silk. Foul ulcers, coated with a layer of putrid slough or lymph, 

 if dressed daily in this way, will probably soon assume healthy characters ; 

 and when this has occurred, a comparatively slight washing of the sore with 

 the chloride-of-zinc solution will be sufficient for the final purification, pre- 

 liminary to using the dressing with protective and dry boracic lint ; whereas 

 if the chloride is used at the outset, while the sore is covered with its foul crust. 



