THE. EFFECTS OF CERTAIN ANTISEPTICS 173 



Iodoform. — This is an agent regarding the efficacy of which there has 

 heen much dispute. There is little doubt that it owes its efficiency to 

 its capacity for being broken up by bacterial action in such a way as to set 

 free iodine, which acts as a powerful disinfectant. The substance is there- 

 fore of value in the treatment of foul wounds, such as those of the mouth 

 and rectum, where reducing bacteria are abundantly present. It acts 

 more slightly where there are only pyogenic cocci, and it seems to have 

 a specially beneficial effect in tubercular affections. In certain cases 

 its action may apparently be aided by the presence of the products of 

 tissue degeneration. 



Aniline Dyes. — Many aniline dyes — methyl-violet, malachite green, 

 brilliant green, etc. — are potent antiseptics. Their action varies con- 

 siderably on different groups of bacteria, and hence in certain dilutions 

 they can be used in separating the more resistant species, as in certain of 

 the methods already detailed. Recently Browning and his co-workers 

 have called attention to special features possessed by two diamino- 

 acridine compounds, viz. acriflavine (formerly "flavine") and proflavine. 

 They find that not only are they very potent antiseptics but their potency 

 is enhanced by the presence of serum (this property being peculiar to 

 them so far as has been established at present) ; their inhibitory effect on 

 phagocytosis is relatively small (especially that of acriflavine), and their 

 local and general toxic effects low. The bactericidal action of the two 

 compounds, which is exerted somewhat slowly, is practically the same : 

 they kill staphylococcus aureus in a dilution of 1-100,000 to 1-200,000 

 in serum. They are generally employed as a solution of 1-1000. 



From the results which have been given it will easily be 

 recognised that the choice of an antiseptic and the precise 

 manner in which it is to be employed depend entirely on the 

 conditions under which the bacteria are to be killed. In many 

 cases it will be quite impossible, without original inquiry, to say 

 what course is likely to be attended with most success. In 

 conclusion, it may be said that laboratory experiments alone 

 cannot give accurate information as to the action of antiseptics 

 within the living body, e.g., in a wound. 



