3o8 ON CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE AS A SURGICAL DRESSING 



times as much diluted. Being so much diluted, it will be in proportion less 

 irritating, but a stronger proportion is required to make it safe unless you use 

 it in a very large mass. I believe the French charpie, made of old rags, 

 or even old rags themselves, might be quite well prepared with sublimated 

 serum. I have here some rags which have been so treated, and which are quite 

 absorbent, and therefore the dressing promises to be a very cheap one. If the 

 serum is treated with a certain proportion of sublimate, not sufficient to make 

 it solid, it may be kept for any length of time. For aught I know, this sublimated 

 serum may come to be an article of commerce, which may be used in hospitals, 

 or even in private practice. I also think it possible that a material of this kind, 

 dried and reduced to powder, may come to be used for the purpose of mixing 

 with vaseline for an antiseptic ointment, or even for dusting in, under certain 

 circumstances, among our dressings. 



I regret that time has not allowed me to bring this matter more completely 

 to an issue as regards its practical applications. At the same time, though 

 the subject is, to a certain extent, immature, I ventured to hope that the interest 

 of some of the points to which I have referred might justify me in bringing it 

 before you. 



