30 



Scientific Proceedings (87). 



These experiments showed that chloramine T and dichloramine 

 T were without solvent action, while Dakin's hypochlorite solu- 

 tion in the concentration and degree of alkalinity used clinically 

 readily dissolved the necrotic tissue. A similar action was demon- 

 strated on pus cells, plasma clot, and red blood cells. Fiessinger 



(1) had already demonstrated this action on pus cells, but attrib- 

 uted it to the alkalinity of the hypochlorite solutions used. We 

 have shown that this action was marked in a neutral solution of 

 hypochlorite, whereas in a control solution without hypochlorite 

 but of a degree of alkalinity comparable to Dakin's hypochlorite 

 solution, it was wanting. Alkali added to the neutral hypo- 

 chlorite enhanced its solvent action somewhat. Rous and Jones 



(2) have shown that intact leukocytes may protect virulent 

 bacteria from the action of antiseptics. Hypochlorite solution 

 by disrupting these cells will be able to reach and exert an an- 

 tiseptic action on these organisms, while chloramine T and dichlora- 

 mine T will have no such effect. 



The solvent action of hypochlorite in the degree of alkalinity 

 allowable for clinical use ceases below about 0.2 per cent, con- 

 centration of sodium hypochlorite. This point varies inversely 

 with the alkalinity of the solution. None of these solutions had 

 any solvent action on whole blood clot. 



Curves shown by Carrel and Dehelly (3) demonstrate the ease 

 with which infected wounds containing much necrotic tissue may 

 be sterilized with the use of Dakin's hypochlorite solution. 



References. 



1. Fiessinger, N., Moiroud, P., Guillaumin, C. O., and Vienne, G. Annates de 



Med., 1916, III, 133. 



2. Rous, P., and Jones, F. S. Jour. Exp. Med., 1916, XXIII, 601. 



3. Carrel, A., and Dehelly, G. The Treatment of Infected Wounds, New York, 



1917. 



