TREATMENT OF INJURED HAND 157 



gasolin should be freshly prepared, in small 

 quantities, at the time of use. 



To use the gasolin, pour it directly upon the 

 wound from a small-mouth bottle, letting it 

 wash all over portions of the injury; also make 

 a mop of absorbent cotton or gauze, saturate with 

 the gasolin and gently rub over the parts until 

 cleansed. If the dirt be unusually tenacious, a 

 soft tooth-brush may be used. The body-heat 

 causes the gasolin to evaporate from the surface, 

 leaving the parts clean and dry. 



Gasolin is almost as efficient as hydrogen per- 

 oxide in breaking up adherent clots, and is not 

 painful. 



By way of caution : The surgeon must remem- 

 ber that gasolin vapor is highly inflammable, even 

 explosive ; also, that if it gets into the eye, ear or 

 closed cavities it may cause pain, just as do ether, 

 chloroform and other quickly volatilizing liquids. 

 Benzin may be substituted in an emergency. 



Mercuric Cyanide Solution. — The mercuric- 

 cyanide solution has been a favorite cleansing so- 

 lution with me for many years. Since I first called 

 attention to its use in antiseptic surgery (in 1898) 



