ASEPSIS, ANTISEPSIS AND DISINFECTION. 33 
Fourth—That it should be used in the form of soluble tab- 
lets to irisure accuracy in the concentration of the solution. 
Prof. Frick leaves the impression that mercuric chlorid is 
not specially injurious to edged instruments which is in direct 
conflict with my experience. The dark color it imparts to 
polished or plated instruments is readily removed when they 
are not left too long in the solution, but aside from this 
objection, if such it is, the keenness of a sharp knife is almost 
immediately destroyed when placed in a solution strong 
enough to disinfect it—L. A. M.J 
(b) IODINE. 
Iodine has for a long time played a leading role in surgery, 
but it cannot attain a special place in the treatment of wounds, 
un account of its unpleasant properties of being very volatile 
and caustic, although its antiseptic qualities are pre-eminent. 
However, DAVAINE, DOTTER, and ANDRIEUX recom- 
mend tr. iodine diluted as a remedy in wound treatment. Much 
more importance is given in treatment of wounds to a com- 
pound of Iodine, namely, 
(c) IODOFORM. 
Todoform (CHI3) was introduced in the year 1822 by 
SERULLAS, but MOSETIG and MOORHOF first showed 
that it is a very useful preparation for the treatment of 
wounds. The hopes which MOSETIG placed in iodoform as 
well as the effects which he claimed it to have, were not en- 
tirely confirmed, in fact the contrary was proven. Judgments 
of HEYN, ROVSING, SATTLER, BAUMGARTEN, 
SCHNIRER are not correct. If these authors take the 
actions of iodoform on the cultures of the micro organisms 
as a standard for the antiseptic properties of the remedy, they 
evidently do not consider one factor, which for the under- 
standing of its action is indispensable, namely that iodoform 
gets separated into free iodine only when it comes in contact 
with living animal cells and that this free iodine represents 
the antiseptic agent of the iodoform. KOENIG, BEHRING 
