Antiseptic Action of Substances of the Chloramine Group. 237 



obscure special action of the chloramine molecule as a whole or possibly to 

 selective chlorination of particular cell constituents. 



Practical Use of Chloramines as Antiseptics. — In judging of the suitability 

 of any particular substance for practical use as an antiseptic many factors 

 need consideration. High germicidal activity, when tested against micro- 

 organisms suspended in water is, of course, desirable, but the degree to which 

 this activity is reduced by blood serum, pus, and similar substances is of 

 greater importance, since many antiseptics which act efficiently in watery 

 solutions are practically inert when used on an infected wound. The 

 question of protein coagulation by antiseptics appears to be important, and 

 the fact that hypochlorites and chloramines, unlike many common anti- 

 septics, are not protein coagulants under conditions of practical use is greatly 

 in their favour. Solubility is another important factor. Many of the chlor- 

 amines, especially those prepared from acylanilides (Section IV in Table), 

 have high germicidal action, but are very sparingly soluble in water. They 

 may be dissolved in vaseline or lanoline, and many of these mixtures were 

 given practical trials. They proved to be of little value, for organisms grew 

 readily under the fatty film. They were deficient in penetrating power, and 

 their use was discontinued. "We were therefore led to pay special attention 

 to the chloramines capable of forming soluble sodium salts, and some of these 

 substances appear to be of genuine value. 



On the whole, ^-toluene sodium sulphochloramide seems to be as good as 

 any, and it has already been used successfully for a variety of purposes. The 

 practical applications of the compound have been dealt with elsewhere.* 

 The substance is easily and cheaply made, especially by a method described 

 in the practical part of this paper. It is relatively non-irritating to wounds 

 and can be used in situations where the ordinary antiseptics would prove too 

 irritating or deficient in germicidal action. It may be noted that this 

 compound is readily made from ^-toluene sulphonic chloride, a cheap bye- 

 product in the manufacture of saccharin. Its manufacture has been under- 

 taken by several British firms, and is sold under the name Chloramine-T. 



Eeference may be made at this point to a curious compound of hexa- 

 methylenetetramine and calcium hypochlorite. It is readily precipitated in 

 the form of fine crystals on adding strong bleaching powder solution to 

 hexamethylenetetramine. The compound has strong antiseptic properties, 

 but is of no practical use, since on keeping in the dry state for a few weeks, 

 it decomposes completely. Substances of this type do not appear to have 

 been previously described. Eeference may be made to Delepine's experi- 

 ments on the action of sodium hypochlorite on hexamethylenetetramine. In 

 * ' Brit. Med. Journ.,' January 28, 1916. 



