724 GENERAL THEKAPEUTIC MEASUEES 



genie bacteria are less likely to do harm if the animal is in 

 a healthy condition. A limited number of bacteria (micro- 

 cocci) may even exist within the blood in health, and this 

 fact accounts for suppuration occurring when the tissues 

 are severely injured, without solution of continuity. The 

 internal use of antiseptics is of comparatively little value, 

 except when these agents come in direct contact with germs 

 in the digestive tract. This follows because it is impossible 

 to administer antiseptics in sufficient amount to seriously 

 interfere with bacterial growth in the tissues, without injur- 

 ing or even killing the patient. 



There is- certainly known but a single instance (malaria) 

 where the exhibition of an antiseptic will inhibit the develop- 

 ment of micro-organisms of a general infectious disease, and 

 so absolutely arrest it. It is very possible, however, that 

 mercury as. a specific remedy in syphilis, salicylates in rheu- 

 matism, and carbolic acid in tetanus, act therapeutically as 

 internal antiseptics. Antiseptics are of benefit in rendering 

 the contents of the digestive tube more or less aseptic, and 

 (after absorption) they exert some antiseptic action on the 

 mucous membrane of the respiratory tract (volatile oils), 

 and also on the urinary tract (urotropin), during their 

 elimination. The principal agents used as antiseptics for 

 surgical purposes are : corrosive sublimate, carbolic acid, 

 creolin, lysol, hydrogen dioxide, potassium permanganate, 

 zinc chloride, iodoform, salicylic acid, aristol, iodol, and 

 boric acid. Those employed internally include naphtol, salol, 

 creolin, carbolic acid, bismuth salicylate and subnitrate, 

 quinine, salicylic acid, and many others. For a more de- 

 tailed description the reader is referred to special articles on 

 these agents in the preceding pages. 



DEODOEIZEES OR DEODOEAITTS. 



Deodorants are not of any practical value in simply 

 exchanging one odor for another, but, as in the case of 

 chlorine, they sometimes actually destroy compounds which 

 give rise to the stench. Sewer and other malodorous gases, 

 resulting from foul decomposing matter and excreta, may be 



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