HISTORY OF ANTISEPTIC SURGERY 367 



In order to ensure freedom of escape for the serum, a narrow strip of lint 

 soaked with a solution of carbolic acid in four parts of olive oil was inserted in 

 the incision. But the antiseptic substance was never from first to last applied 

 to the cavity of the abscess, as such treatment could only have been productive 

 of needless irritation. 



I continued to use a strip of lint as a drain for about five years with per- 

 fectly satisfactory results. But in 1871, having opened a very deeply seated 

 acute abscess in the axilla, I found to my surprise, on changing the dressing next 

 day, that the withdrawal of the lint was followed by escape of thick pus like the 

 original contents. 



It occurred to me that in that deep and narrow incision, the lint, instead 

 of serving as a drain, might have acted like a plug, and so reproduced the con- 

 ditions present before evacuation. Taking a piece of the india-rubber tubing 

 of a Richardson's spray producer that I had used for local anaesthesia at the 

 operation, I cut holes in it and attached knotted silk threads to one end, so im- 

 provising a drainage-tube. This I put to steep for the night in a strong watery 

 solution of carbolic acid, and introduced it in place of the lint on changing the 

 dressing next morning. The withdrawal of the lint had been followed by dis- 

 charge of thick pus as before ; but next morning I was rejoiced to find nothing 

 escape unless it w^ere a drop or so of clear serum. This rapidly diminished, and 

 within a week of the opening of the abscess I was able to take leave of my patient, 

 the discharge from the abscess cavity having entirely ceased. 

 V After that case I used drainage-tubes as a rule in the treatment of abscess. 

 But it is well to remember that if such a tube should not be at hand, a narrow 

 strip of lint, sterilized of course with some trustworthy antiseptic solution, will 

 in almost every case answer the purpose equally well. 



The crude carbolic acid which, under the name of German creosote, was 

 supplied to me by my colleague, Dr. Anderson, Professor of Chemistry in tlie 

 University of Glasgow, was a brown liquid which had been adulterated with 

 water, and this lay on the top as a clear layer, destitute of any flavour of carbolic 

 acid. This led me in my first paper on compound fracture to speak of carbolic 

 acid as absolutely insoluble in water. ^ But when it was afterwards produced 

 in a comparatively pure condition in colourless crystals, it proved to be capable 

 of being taken up by water, though twentv parts were required for the purpose. 

 The watery solution, however, though weak numerically, showed itself to be 

 exceedingly potent as an antiseptic. Having applied it to a foul sore in the 

 palm of the hand, I found, on changing the dressing next day. that all putre- 

 factive odour had disaj)peared. 



' Sec p. 4 of this volume. 



