CHAPTER V. 



ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS. 



IT is impossible in the limited space at our disposal to 

 enter into a detailed discussion of the antiseptic value of all 

 the known antiseptics. We will, however, consider the most 

 important and most commonly used. 



Mercuric chloride in a solution as weak as 1 : 30,000 restrains 

 the development of anthrax spores ; 1 : 1000 kills them in a 

 few minutes. The addition of 5 parts of hydrochloric or 

 tartaric acid to 1 part of the mercuric salt will prevent 

 precipitation of the mercury by the albumins of the tissues, 

 which lessens its germicidal value considerably. The bacteria 

 are embraced in the albuminous coagulum and thus escape 

 the action of the bichloride. A 1 : 1000 solution kills the 

 tubercle bacillus in one minute. Growth of the pus cocci is 

 restrained by a 1 : 30,000 solution ; 1 : 1000 kills them in from 

 five to ten minutes. Sternberg advocates its use as a general 

 disinfectant in 1 : 1000 or 1 : 500 solution for spore-containing 

 material, and in 1 : 5000 or 1 : 2000 for non-sporulating 

 pathogenic bacteria. 



Potassium permanganate, in 5 per cent, solution, kills an- 

 thrax spores in twenty-four hours. The dilute solutions used 

 for irrigating purposes and urethral injections are absolutely 

 worthless so far as their antiseptic action is concerned. They 

 are usually administered hot, and to the heat must be ascribed 

 their much vaunted value as germicides. Potassium perman- 

 ganate is decomposed easily by wound secretions. 



Silver nitrate destroys anthrax spores in twenty-four hours 

 in a 1 : 10,000 solution. Behring says it is superior to mer- 

 curic chloride. It is very irritating, and combines with chlo- 

 rides and albumins to form insoluble silver salts which have 

 no germicidal value. The various other silver salts (organic) 

 now on the market do not combine with the albumins, and 



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