CAN SUPPURATIOX BE PRODUCED BY CHEMICALS ? 93 



Councilman ("Zur Aetiologie der Eiterung," Virchow's Arehiv, 

 B. xcii. S. 217230) introduced turpentine and croton oil in aseptic 

 glass capsules into the connective tissue of animals, and after the 

 wound had healed and the capsules had become encysted, ruptured 

 them subcutaneously. He observed that these substances caused a 

 circumscribed suppuration. 



Uskoif (" Giebt es eine Eiterung, unabhangig von niederen 

 Organisrnen?" Virchow's Archiv, B. Ixxxv., 1881) found by his 

 experiments that a considerable quantity of indifferent substances, 

 such as milk, olive oil, etc., if injected subcutaneously in animals, 

 either at once, or by repeating the injection from time to time, 

 caused suppuration, and that turpentine administered in this manner 

 always acted as a pyogenic agent. 



Orthmann (" Ueber die Ursachen der Eiterbildung,'' Virchow's 

 Arehiv, B. xc. S. 544-554), under Rosenbach's supervision, re- 

 peated Uskoff's experiments, and by resorting to most strict anti- 

 septic precautions could not verify the correctness of his conclusions 

 in regard to the pyogenic properties of indifferent substances. His 

 experiments with croton oil, turpentine, and metallic mercury re- 

 sulted in inflammation and suppuration. Cultivation experiments 

 with pus thus produced showed that it was sterile. 



Scheuerlen (" Die Entstehung und Erzeugung der Eiteruug durch 

 chemische Reizmittel," 1887) made a series of very carefully con- 

 ducted experiments, and came to the conclusion that aseptic sub- 

 stances never produced suppuration. He modified Councilman's 

 method by substituting capillary glass tubes for the glass capsules, 

 which were rendered perfectly aseptic, and were then charged with 

 from one to four drops of turpentine, after which they were sealed 

 in the flame of a spirit lamp. They were inserted into the tissues 

 through a long, hollow needle, in order to avoid the necessity of 

 making an incision. After the glass was put in the proper place 

 the needle was withdrawn, and the puncture closed with iodotbrm 

 collodion. After the puncture was healed the glass tube was broken 

 underneath the skin. He extended his investigations to other irri- 

 tating substances aside from turpentine, but in no instance was the 

 experiment followed by suppuration. 



Quite recently, Grawitz and de Bary (" Ueber die Ursachen der 

 subcutanen Entziinduug und Eiteruug," Virchow's Archiv, B. cviii. 

 S. 67-103) again upheld the theory that suppuration can be pro- 

 duced by irritating substances independently of microorganisms. 

 Among the many important conclusions drawn from their numer- 

 ous experiments may be mentioned the following : 



1. Weak solutions of nitrate of silver, 0.5 per cent., if adminis- 

 tered subcutaueously, are absorbed ; strong solutions, 5 per cent. 



