BACTERIA, DESTRUCTIVE INFLUENCES 41 



properly kept. It is extensively used to wasli out 

 abscess-cavities and purulent sinuses, and also as a 

 gargle and mouth-wash. 



Soap. — Castile and ordinary white bath soap possess 

 moderate disinfecting power, and in conjunction with hot 

 water and a scrub brush have a wide and varied use- 

 fulness. Soaps alone, however, cannot be depended upon 

 when thorough disinfection is required. 



Dakin's Solution. — As the result of a study of the 

 treatment of infected wounds. Carrel and Dakin devised 

 an antiseptic treatment with a neutral solution of hypo- 

 chlorite of soda. When properly prepared the solution 

 contains 0.475 per cent, of the hypochlorite, with small 

 quantities of neutral salts. It is isotonic to blood-serum, 

 ^lore recently a simple apparatus has been devised 

 whereby Dakin's solution can readily be prepared from 

 pure, liquid chlorine. 



Dichloramine-T. — Dakin has also devised two chemi- 

 cal compounds, called chloramine-T and dichloramine-T 

 respectively. These exert a marked disinfecting action 

 even in the presence of blood-serum, and they have ac- 

 cordingly come into considerable use in the dressing of 

 infected wounds. Ordinarily these substances are used 

 in the form of solutions in oil, especially in chlorinated 

 eucalyptus oil. Such solutions can then be mixed with 

 chlorinated paraffin oil, if it should be found desirable to 

 (Hlute the solution. Since light decomposes the chlora- 

 mine solutions, the use of amber or, better still, black 

 bottles is advisable. Under favorable conditions a solu- 

 tion properly prepared will keep for several weeks. 



In ordinary wounds the ap])lication of these anti- 

 septic solutions is made once in twenty-four hours. For 



