692 GENERAL THERAPEUTIC MEASURES 



we must add the intrinsic power of resistance vested in the 

 tissues, blood serum, and leucocytes, in combatting micro- 

 organisms ; and the production of antitoxins in the body, 

 antagonizing the toxins formed by bacterial action. Micro- 

 organisms are always to be found on the surface of the body 

 and within its natural cavities opened to the air, but patho- 

 genic bacteria are less likely to do harm if the animal is in 

 a healthy condition. A limited number of bacteria (micro- 

 cocci) may even exist within the blood in health, and thia 

 fact accounts for suppuration occurring when the tissues 

 are severely injured, without solution of continuity. The 

 internal use of antiseptics is of comparatively little value, 

 except when these agents come in direct contact witli germs 

 in the digestive tract. This follows because it is impossible 

 to administer antiseptics in suflScient amount to seriously 

 interfere with bacterial growth in the tissues, without injur- 

 ing or even killing the patient. 



There is known but a single instance (malaria) where 

 the exhibition of an antiseptic will inhibit the development 

 of micro-organisms of a general infectious disease, and so 

 absolutely arrest it. Antiseptics are of benefit in rendering 

 the contents of the digestive tube more or less aseptic, and 

 (after absorption) they exert some antiseptic action on the 

 mucous membrane of the respiratory tract (volatile oils), and 

 also on the urinary tract, during their elimination. The 

 principal agents used as antiseptics for surgical purposes 

 are : corrosive sublimate, carbolic acid, creolin, hydrogen di- 

 oxide, potassium permanganate, zinc chloride, iodoform, sali- 

 cylic acid, aristol, iodol, and boric acid. Those employed in- 

 ternally include naphtol, salol, creolin, carbolic acid, bismuth 

 salicylate and subnitrate, quinine, salicylic acid, and many 

 others. For a more detailed description the reader is referred 

 to special articles on these agents in the preceding pages. 



DEODORIZERS OR DEODORANTS. 



Deodorants are not of any practical value in simply 

 exchanging one odor for another, but, as in the case of 



