DISINFECTION OF INFECTED CARRIERS, ETC. 55 
a 
over with the firing iron. At the same time, the heat acts 
on the surroundings of the wound so that some microbes, 
on which neither the knife nor sublimate had any effect, are 
thus destroyed. In case of necessity the firing irons can be 
used for this purpose, but some have the disadvantage of get- 
ting cold too quick. To cool off the highly heated textures 
afterwards, the wound surface after the application of the hot 
iron may be irrigated with a disinfecting fluid. 
Though it is not necessary in most of the wounds of the 
soft parts to use such strict measures as far as the sharp 
scoop and scissors are concerned, these precautions are a 
necessity in all wounds of the bones, cartilages, and tendons. 
These parts, owing to their anatomical relation, seem to get 
diseased to a greater extent, therefore, these tissues must be 
worked upon energetically with both the sharp scoop and 
‘chisel and eventually the Paquelin burner before the applica- 
tion of chemical disinfecting materials are to be thought of. 
In these ways we can always succeed in disinfecting an 
infected wound and I would especially call attention to the 
mechanical disinfection, that is, to the use of the cutting 
instruments and of fire, as they play the chief role with me in 
wound disinfection, while the chemical agents come second- 
ary. The most effectual amongst them is the sublimate ; car- 
bolic acid does not develop a sufficient action until a 5 per 
cent. solution is used, and then it irritates the wound. 
