'308 ACTION OF THE SULPHITES. 



prevent or greatly postpone putrefactive change in the 

 body when the animals are killed, but nevertheless these 

 salts are discovered in the tissues as sulphites still 

 undecomposed. These facts alone lead to the infer- 

 ence that the stilphites do not act as mere deoxidisers, 

 for if they did so, they would be discovered as sul- 

 phates. Experience has shown that a trace of 

 sulphurous acid will arrest fermentive changes in a 

 mass of material upon which its chemical action would 

 be quite inappreciable. There can, therefore, be no 

 doubt that the modus operandi of the sulphite is that 

 of a septicide. 



Carbolic acid has been recommended as* an anti- 

 septic medicine, and, though the evidence is con- 

 flicting, there are many who think highly of its use- 

 fulness when administered in zymotic diseases. It is 

 absorbed into the blood even when it is applied, of 

 course diluted, to the cuticular surface. When pure 

 it has a caustic action upon skin and mucous mem- 

 branes, and even when freely diluted it is very 

 nauseous. Its combinations with albumen, alcohol, 

 glycerine, fats, &c., have each different degrees of 

 antiseptic action. It is probable, therefore, that its 

 effects vary, not only with the medicinal adjuncts with 

 which it is administered, but with the nature of the 

 contents of the stomach at the time of its ingestion. 

 It was therefore considered by Dr. Sansom desirable 

 to employ some preparation or salt of carbolic acid 

 for internal administration. The following paragraphs 



