122 
antiseptic properties, whilst it is moreover quite non-toxic. As it has 
further an antipyretic action and is inexpensive, it might deserve much 
greater attention on the part of physicians as a mouth-wash, febrifuge, etc. 
than has been the case hitherto. The antiseptic action of menthol 
and thymol would make these remedies appear suitable especially as 
additions with a not obtrusive odour to tooth - powder and liquid 
dentifrice. 
Since 15 years I have added these two substances (each 1,0 gram 
to 30 powder) to all tooth-powders prescribed by me, in lieu of 
peppermint oil and of camphor so popular in England, and I have 
never had reason to complain about it. For restricting putre-faction 
in the gastro-intestinal canal, thymol and menthol are also useful. 
This explains why there is scarcely one kind of cholera - drops 
not containing oil of peppermint. In how far both substances, after 
internal administration, are also active against microbes of the urinary 
canal, requires further examination. 
The use of balsams and essential oils in catarrhs of the urinary 
canal, as mentioned above (page 118), should have a diuretic effect, 
and thereby more frequently flush the diseased parts of the urinary 
passages, and prevent prolonged stagnation of the urine. But these 
remedies are also used with the view of obtaining an antiseptic action. 
The idea upon which this is based is this, that these remedies, which 
are secreted from the kidney like menthol and thymol, in the form of 
combined glycuronic acids, are decomposed when in contact with urine 
containing bacteria, and at the moment of decomposition exert an 
antiseptic action. That this action also extends to gonococci, has been 
demonstrated by Neisser. But further experiments on this subject, 
which is of such great importance for every physician, are desirable. 
R. Boehm^) mentions among the internal antigonorrhoeic remedies 
gurjun h^\s2im [Balsamum dipterocarpi), as having an action very similar 
to that of copaiba balsam. It contains about 65 per cent, essential 
oil. For the purpose of sterilising catgut, many surgeons use essential 
oils. Only recently W. Fedorow^) has expressed the opinion that 
the turpentine-oil and cajeput-oil methods are to be preferred to all 
other sterilising methods of catgut. The antiseptic properties of 
terpineol, vanillin, etc. have already been referred to in the April 
number of these Reports (page 80). Some experiments by my pupil 
H. Kleist, on the action of microbes on certain derivatives of 
anthranilic acid, have also been communicated there in the original 
(page III et seq.) 
^) Lehrbuch der allgem. u. spez. Arzneiverordnungslehre. Third edition, com- 
pletely revised. Jena, 1903. 
2) Russky Wratsch, 1902, Nr. 30. 
