536 MATER i A MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



The Treatment of Wounds. 



1. Antiseptics prevent putrefaction in a wound by virtue 

 of their action in arresting the growth of organisms, or de- 

 stroying these or the chemical activity of certain substances 

 which give rise to fermentation and decomposition. They 

 include : Carbolic Acid, Creasote, Boracic Acid, lodoform, 

 Iodine, Eucalyptus, Thymol, Salicylic Acid, Quinia, Sul- 

 phurous Acid, Perchloride of Mercury, Chloride of Zinc, 

 Alcohol, Permanganate of Potash, Turpentine, Benzoin, 

 Balsam of Tolu, and Balsam of Peru. 



2. Disinfectants are substances which destroy micro- 

 organisms, or active chemical substances and their products, 

 on surfaces already foul or infected. They are for the most 

 part the same materials as the antiseptics, but are employed in 

 a much stronger form. Such are strong solutions of Chloride 

 of Zinc and Carbolic Acid, lodoform, Iodine, Sulphurous Acid. 



3. Deodorants absorb gases and neutralise foul odours. 

 Those chiefly used are Charcoal, Permanganate of Potash, and 

 lodoform. 



4. Astringents coagulate or precipitate the albuminous 

 discharges, coagulate the germinal protoplasm of the upper 

 layers of cells, and either directly contract or indirectly con- 

 stringe the vessels, so as to limit exudation. They are used to 

 check excessive discharge and granulation growth ; and thus 

 give tone to wounds. Astringents include : Solutions of 

 Nitrate of Silver, Subacetate and Acetate of Lead, Sulphate of 

 Zinc, Sulphate of Copper, Alum, Persalts of Iron, Tannic Acid 

 and its allies, and Carbolic Acid. 



5. Stimulants are for the most part mild astringents, 

 applied chiefly in the form of lotion ; such as weak solutions 

 of Nitrate of Silver, Sulphate of Copper, Sulphate of Zinc, 

 Carbolic Acid, etc. They are more efficacious as weak spirituous 

 solutions. Stimulants are used to wounds when healing flags 

 or the granulations tend to become prominent. 



6. Styptics are applied to wounds to check haemorrhage. 

 They include : Ice, Persalts of Iron, Nitrate of Silver, Matico, 

 Tannic acid. 



7. Caustics and Escharotics are intended to destroy part 



