ANTISEPTIC TREATMENT. 2 8i 



more healthy state of the wound is due to the 

 slower rate at which changes take place upon its sur- 

 face. Camphor and a number of other substances 

 act in the same way, and it is probable that carbolic 

 acid exerts a similar influence. In the treatment of 

 pus formation proceeding upon the surface of mucous 

 membranes, many substances which have the property 

 of coagulating albumen have been found eminently 

 useful, and are continually employed in practice. Most 

 of the astringent injections which experience has 

 shown to be of service, when injected into mucous 

 canals, the. lining of which is in a morbid state from 

 the increased activity of the bioplasm, undoubtedly 

 act by destroying many of the rapidly growing bio- 

 plasts or pus corpuscles, especially the youngest and 

 most minute. Benefit also results from the indirect 

 action of the remedy in effecting upon and beneath the 

 mucous membrane changes which are less favourable 

 to the formation and nutrition of the pus bioplasts. 



The destruction of the bioplasm in the blood and in 

 internal parts of the body in cases of fever, will be 

 more conveniently considered after the antiseptic 

 treatment of wounds has been discussed. (See 

 pp. 300, 305). 



The A ntiseptic Treatment of Wounds. 



Pitch and tar were used in the treatment of wounds 

 a century and more ago. The benefit resulting from 

 their use, was probably due to the presence of sub- 



