HYDEAEGYEI CHLORIDUM COEEOSIVUM. 215 



tions are employed to kill the fungus of favus and ring- 

 worm, and to destroy lice and the acari of mange, when in- 

 habiting circumscribed areas. Itching in skin diseases, as 

 chronic eczema and psoriasis, is relieved by either blue oint- 

 ment or the oleate of mercury. 



HYDEAEGTRI OXIDUM BUBRUM ET FLATUM 



The official ointments of the red and yellow mercuric 

 oxides are prescribed, as stimulant and antiseptic prepara- 

 tions, in chronic conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers (gr. i.-ii. of the 

 yellow oxide to § i. of vaseline), granular lids and scaly skin 

 diseases. They are also employed on indolent ulcers, 

 swollen glands and old granulating surfaces. When used on 

 mucous membranes, or raw surfaces, the official ointments 

 should be diluted with equal parts of lard. 



HYDEAEGYEI CHLOEIDUM COEEOSIVUM. 



External. — Corrosive sublimate is of value mainly as 

 an antiseptic on the unbroken skin. It is germicide in 

 solutions containing 1 part to 500, or 1000, of water. Ap- 

 plied to mucous membranes, or raw surfaces, it is antiseptic 

 in solutions varying in strength from 1-10,000 to 1-1,000. 



In the larger cavities of the body, as the vagina, solu- 

 tions should not be used in strength greater than 1-5000 or 

 1-3000. Recent experiments by Harrington and Walker go 

 to show that corrosive sublimate is much less active than 

 comnionly believed. A 1-1000 solution requires more than 

 ten minutes' contact to kill common forms of pus cocci, so 

 that dipping the hands for a few seconds in such solutions 

 does more harm than good in inducing a false security 

 which does not exist. They conclude by saying that, as 

 the result of their experiments, " corrosive sublimate in any ■ 

 of the strengths commonly employed is a much overrated 

 disinfectant, and under the best of conditions is so uncer- 

 tain in its action that it would be of advantage to abandon 

 its use altogether in surgery." These men are known to be 

 careful and trustworthy investigators and their findings 

 agree with the results okained by many great surgeons. _ In 

 view of the ease with which corrosive sublimate combines 



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