74 ANTISEPTICS. 



Three preparations of iodoform are used in surgery, viz. saturated 

 solution in ether, a 10 per cent, emulsion in glycerine, and a 10 to 

 20 per cent, ointment in vaseline. The glycerine emulsion is useful 

 in the treatment of abscesses, tuberculous cavities, and contused 

 wounds, like those caused by carriage poles, etc. Gauze and wadding 

 impregnated with iodoform are largely used as antiseptic dressings. 

 They contain 10, 20, and 30 per cent, of iodoform. 



Formalin consists of a 40 per cent, aqueous solution of formalde- 

 hyde. Diluted with four to five hundred parts of water, it becomes 

 a useful disinfectant for the hands, seat of operation, and accidental 

 rounds. Strong solutions are irritant and caustic. Tannoform, 

 glutol and amyloform are respectively compounds of formaldehyde 

 with tannic acid, gelatine, and starch. They form useful dry 

 dressings for open wounds, but are of greatest service when preceded 

 by the application of a liquid disinfectant. 



Chinosol is a yellow, crystalline powder, derived from coal tar. 

 A solution of one part in forty thousand prevents bacterial develop- 

 ment, and a grain dissolved in six drachms of water is said to be 

 equal in antiseptic powder to a 2£ per cent, solution of carbolic acid. 

 Solutions for surgical purposes vary in strength between 1 in 1200 

 and 1 in 60. Combined with starch or French chalk chinosol forms 

 an efficient dry dressing. 



Nitrate of silver of a strength of 1 to 2 per cent., or of 1 per 1000, 

 is used with success for disinfecting certain inflamed mucous 

 membranes. 



Boric acid is little used in solution, but as a dry powder is widely 

 employed for dressing wounds after operation. Its irritant properties 

 are slight, and being non-volatile its action is long continued. A 

 saturated solution is of great value for operations on the eye, and 

 for disinfecting the mucous membranes of the buccal and nasal 

 cavities, the rectum, vagina, and bladder. 



Naphthol of a strength of 1 in 1000 is a feeble antiseptic. 

 Naphthalin has the same properties as naphthol, exercises a stimu- 

 lating action on the tissues, and promotes granulation of wounds. 

 Camphorated naphthol is a yellowish-brown, syrupy liquid, produced 

 by triturating one part of naphthol with two parts of camphor. 

 Camphorated salol is an opalescent liquid, produced by warming 

 together equal parts of salol and powdered camphor. Camphorated 

 thymol is an almost limpid fluid, produced by triturating one part 

 of thymol with two parts of camphor. These three products are 

 used in treating suppurating wounds. Other valuable antiseptics 

 are Lysol, Cofectant, Sanitas-bactox, Izal, and Creolin. 



