STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION IN THE PHARMACY 359 



A perfectly safe rule for the pharmacist is to consider all niedicamenta 

 which he handles and which he may be called upon to dispense, as being 

 possibly contaminated and to sterilize and disinfect all articles which in his 

 judgment as a qualified pharmacist may require such treatment, in so far 

 as it is practically possible. The retail pharmacist must not place too 

 much confidence in the assertions of comparatively little known manufac- 

 turers and wholesale houses, regarding the sterile conditions of the articles 

 which they may supply. 



The medicines found in a drug store and dispensed by the pharmacist 

 may be grouped as follows: 



A. Medicines which do not Generally Require Sterilization 



a. For internal administration per mouth. They may be contami- 

 nated or may become contaminated on standing for a time. Such medi- 

 cines should be rejected. Do not attempt to render them usable by 

 sterilization. 



b. Mouth washes and gargles. 



c. Enemas. Enemas for young children and such enemas as are to be 

 apphed to inflamed or otherwise pathologic conditions of the intestinal 

 mucous membrane, should be sterilized. 



d. Medicamenta which are to be applied to the intact skin, or to the 

 scalp. 



B. Medicines Which Require Sterilization 



a. Those intended for intravenous and hypodermic use. Not only 

 must these be absolutely sterile but they must be in perfect solution, before 

 using. 



b. Those to be applied to cuts, bruises, abrasions, wounds, ulcers, 

 sores, and to the broken skin generally. 



c. Those to be appHed to inflamed mucous membranes, as enemas, 

 douches, etc. 



d. Solutions for the irrigation of the bladder. 



e. Eye medicines, as washes and other solutions, intended for direct 

 application to the eye. 



I. Methods of Sterilization 



The following methods of sterilization are applicable in the pharmacy 

 and should be consistently practised: 



A. Sterilization of Containers. — The glassware and other containers 

 used in the pharmacy should be cleaned and sterilized as follows: 



a. Bottles and Glassware Generally. — Wash and rinse in warm water to 

 remove dust, dirt, sand, straw, etc., then wash and rinse in hot water with 

 2 to 5 per cent, sodic hydrate. NeutraHze the sodic hydrate by washing 



