1888.] Dr Woodhead on Mercuric Salts as Antiseptics. 245 
liquid becomes darker in colour, but tbere is no precipitate of any 
kind. 
From these experiments it is seen that the best results are un- 
doubtedly obtained with the biniodide of mercury in solution of 
iodide of potassium alone. There is no coagulation of the albumen 
of the blood, no reduction of the hsemoglobin ; in fact, there appears 
to be no change of any kind, and the fluid at the end of six weeks 
is just as clear and as little changed as it was on the first day. The 
immediate results are much the same if common salt, phosphate of 
soda, &c., be used; but, as we shall find afterwards in the case of 
the latter salt, the permanent results are not so satisfactory. The 
stronger alkalies and the acids all reduce the haemoglobin, and 
appear to diminish the germicidal activity of the potassio mercuric 
iodide. Compare those results with what was observed where these 
various reagents were used with the corrosive sublimate solution. 
In that case, common salt and the vegetable and hydrochloric acids 
Avere all available as solvents of the precipitate of albuminate of 
mercury formed AAdien the bichloride was mixed with blood. 
In order to see Avhat further changes would take place in these 
fluids if left exposed to the air, they were placed in a warm room in 
which were numerous spores of organisms floating in the atmosphere. 
Along with them was exposed a glass jar in which 5 c.c. of blood 
was mixed with 50 c.c. of distilled water. At the end of six weeks 
they were examined, with the following results : — At the surface of 
each there Avas, of course, a thin film of dust, in which could be 
found a feAV spores of fungi, &c., and in some cases a few bacteria 
or even micrococci, but except in those to be mentioned, there 
was no growth or proliferation of micro-organisms of any kind. 
In the mixture of bichloride of mercury and blood, which as we 
saw was eventually an aseptic but not an antiseptic fluid, there 
were a few micrococci and bacilli. On the surface Penicillium 
(jlaucum Avas growing luxuriantly, but there Avas no odour of any 
kind, even when the fluid was stirred. When sodium phosphate 
had been added, micro-organisms were very abundant, and they 
appeared to be proliferating very rapidly. Penicillium glaucum was 
found growing on the surface. Here again, however, there was no 
putrefactive odour. 
Of the biniodide series, that in which the biniodide and iodide 
