STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION IN THE PHARMACY. I9I 



minutes. There is so much uncertainty as to the results that the method 

 cannot as yet be recommended for practical use. 



The addition of disinfectants to medicines for purposes of sterilization 

 has recently received some attention. The use of formaldehyde, ether, 

 chloroform and alcohol, have been recommended, each having its special 

 use in practice. The general criticisms made regarding the use of the ultra- 

 violet rays also apply here. Currie recommends a formalin method as 

 follows: applicable to infusions of calumba, gentian, quassia and senega 

 "The infusions of calumba and quassia are simply evaporated to one-eighth 

 of their bulk, filtered, and 4 minims of the ordinary 40 per cent, solution of 

 formaldehyde added to each fluid ounce of the concentrated infusion. On 

 dispensing, the requisite amount is put in a shallow basin and brought 

 sharply to the boil, thus dissipating the formaldehyde. The infusion is then 

 diluted to the normal strength with sterilized distilled water. Infusion of 

 gentian is made from gentian root alone, and concentrated. To this is 

 added essence of lemon (i in 10), and the official tincture of orange in the 

 proportion of 2 fluid drams of the former and i fluid ounce of the latter to 

 each pint of the infusion. There is also added 4 minims of 40 per cent, solu- 

 tion of formaldehyde to each fluid ounce of infusion. Infusion of senega 

 is concentrated by evaporation and to prevent precipitation, 5 grains of 

 potassium bicarbonate are added to each fluid ounce of the concentrated 

 solution, and 4 minims of 40 per cent, solution of formaldehyde. In case 

 of both gentian and senega infusion, the formaldehyde is dissipated at the 

 time of dispensing, in the manner already described. The advantages of 

 this process are ease of manipulation, cheapness, and the certainty of the 

 antiseptic condition of the infusion while being kept in stock and until dis- 

 pensed. The quantity of formaldehyde remaining in the. diluted infusion 

 is infinitesimal, and may be ignored for all practical purposes." 



It is known that weak solutions of hypodermic and intravenous solutions, 

 unless sterilized, will show numerous bacteria upon standing for a time. 

 One per cent, solutions of pilocarpin, atropin, cocaine, morphine, and fluid- 

 extract of ergot have been found to contain millions of bacteria per c.c. 

 However, 10 per cent, iodoform glycerin, camphorated oil (1 in 10), solutions 

 of apomorphin (0.2 in 20), quinine (i in 10), antipyrin (5 in 10), cocaine 

 (10 per cent.) are usually quite free from bacteria. In a general way the 

 bacterial conJ;ent of medicinal solutions decreases directly with the degree of 

 concentration. Pus microbes die at once in ether and in a saturated solution 

 of quinine, whereas they remain active in a 10 per cent, solution of cocaine. 

 A 2 per cent, solution of morphine kills pus microbes in twenty-four hours, 

 while pure glycerin kills them only after an exposure of six to eight days. 



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

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



