34 MEDICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



chloroform or ether. The small quantity of antiseptic so added is not detri- 

 mental or observable either during dispensing or compounding, but yet sufficient 

 to prevent the growth of moulds and other bacteria. 



Inasmuch as the retail pharmacist today is called upon to dispense numerous 

 preparations and medicaments as sterile products, it would be advisable to 

 note what medicines require sterilization. These may be grouped as follows: 



(a) Those preparations intended for intravenous, intramuscular and 

 hypodermic use, which must be absolutely sterile. 



(>) Drops, lotions, ointments, and other applications to be used for the 

 eye. 



(c) All preparations to be applied to the bruised or abrased skin and gener- 

 ally in other cases when the latter is broken and medicaments are to be applied 

 thereon. 



(d) Solutions to be used for inflamed mucous surfaces and for irrigation of 

 various internal organs. 



(e) All preparations that become mouldy, which in turn may affect their 

 composition, as liquor magnesii citratis (U.S. P.). 



Many of the products that the pharmacist is called upon to dispense are 

 extemporaneous preparations, to be dispensed as quickly as possible. It is 

 perhaps true that some of these cannot be made absolutely sterile in the short 

 time available, but all of them can be made as near sterile as is essential for 

 ordinary administration. 



Ointments. All bases and vehicles can be kept sterile indefinitely if 

 the original product when first made be kept in a clean, sterile container in a 

 cool place; and each time a portion is to be removed, a spatula, which has been 

 cleansed with a little alcohol or chloroform, should be used. 



Most of the powders entering into the composition of an ointment, if kept 

 in a clean-stoppered container will, with few exceptions, not require any addi- 

 tional means to produce a sterile product. 



In compounding, use a clean slab and spatula, which have been previously 

 cleansed with alcohol or chloroform. Place the end product preferably in a 

 collapsible tube, a supply of which can easily be kept on hand, at all times, in a 

 jar containing alcohol, to assure sterility. 



Liquid Preparations. Use sterile containers and stoppers. Use sterile 

 water and have all other solutions sterile if convenient, when these enter into 

 the preparation of any medicinal product which is to be sterile. 



If such preparations are not rendered inactive or have their composition 

 otherwise affected, place them either in the autoclave, steam sterilizer or water 

 bath for a sufficient length of time. 



In those instances where fractional sterilization is recommended, heating for 

 one period will suffice for all such extemporaneous preparations. 



Sterilization by heat may be accomplished by exposure to fire, by hot air, 

 hot water or steam. 



Small instruments which can be easily and entirely flamed, without injury, 

 may be conveniently sterilized in this way. Larger instruments, utensils, 



