July 20,1872.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
41 
ANTISEPTIC PHARMACY. 
BY WILLIAM MARTINDALE, F.C.S., 
Dispenser and Teacher of Pharmacy at the University 
College Hospital. 
(Concluded from p. 22.) 
When a surgical operation lias to be performed on 
a previously unbroken integument, the part being first 
well cleansed with an aqueous solution of carbolic 
acid, Professor Lister then imbues the atmosphere 
surrounding it, both previously, while the incision is 
being made, and as long as the cut surfaces are ex¬ 
posed, with a cloud produced by a spray apparatus 
from an aqueous solution of carbolic acid, one part 
in 100.* A rag or “ guard” soaked in the carbolic 
solution is employed to cover the wound while the 
spraying from the atomizer is discontinued, but 
this should be commenced again before the removal 
of the “ guard.” At the conclusion of the operation, 
the wound and adjacent parts are thoroughly cleansed 
from blood, etc., by sponging them with the same 
carbolic solution. Thus it is ensured that no putre¬ 
factive organism has the chance of entering the 
wound alive. The same precautions are necessary 
at each fresh dressing of the wound. 
The wound being thus free from the elements of 
putrefaction at the completion of the operation, it 
remains to carry out the other division of the anti¬ 
septic treatment, viz., to apply such external dress¬ 
ing as shall securely guard for the future against 
the penetration of septic ferment from without. “ For 
this purpose,” says Professor Lister, “ the most con¬ 
venient material I have yet arrived at is the ‘ Anti¬ 
septic Gauze,’ made by impregnating a cotton cloth 
of open texture—a kind of book-muslin—with a mix¬ 
ture of carbolic acid, resin, and paraffin, in which 
the resin serves as a vehicle for the acid, while 
paraffin is added to prevent inconvenient adhesive¬ 
ness.” The proportions which he has found best 
for carbolizing this material are the following; it is 
manufactured on a large scale by Messrs. J. F. 
Macfarlan and Co. of Edinburgh :— 
Antiseptic Carbolic Gauze. 
Take of 
Carbolic Acid, in Crystals ... 1 part. 
Common Resin.5 parts. 
Paraffin.7 parts. 
Having melted the acid and resin together, the 
carbolic acid is added and dissolved. In this mixture 
the muslin, in six yard pieces folded to fit the press, 
and previously warmed by placing it in a hot stove, 
is immersed until the whole of its fibres are thoroughly 
permeated by the carbolized vehicle, the latter being 
kept liquefied in a trough heated by steam. A 
number of these impregnated clothes are then placed 
in a hydraulic press between hot metallic plates and 
the pressure applied quickly, so that the cloth is 
left with rather less than its own weight of the 
mass; the individual fibres being charged, but the 
interstices left open. For hospital purposes Pro¬ 
* Since writing the above, I learn that Professor Lister 
now recommends this solution to be of the strength of one 
part in 40. He used it of this strength a few years ago, but 
thought that it was then unnecessarily active and caused some 
irritation; he has, however, returned to it, as he finds the 
weaker is not always sufficiently antiseptic. A modified kind 
of putrescence having occurred in some cases, which he at- 
tributes to this source when the weaker lotion and spray 
were used. 
Third Series, No. 108. 
fessor Lister states the clothes may be washed and 
recharged over and over again to save expense. 
“ The saving of expense” is rather doubtful, as the 
difficulty in washing them free from the resin, 
paraffin and the discharge from the wounds, and the 
attendant danger of not getting them free from the 
latter before recarbolizing, are such as almost pro¬ 
hibit this kind of economy, because the fabric itself 
can be purchased for about the cost of labour ex¬ 
pended in cleansing that which has once been used. 
The gauze when freshly carbolized is soft and slightly 
moist to touch, but on exposure to the atmosphere 
it becomes somewhat harsh and crisp; it should, 
therefore, be kept closely packed, and as little ex¬ 
posed to the air as possible. 
This carbolized dressing,-while it absorbs the dis¬ 
charge, holds the antiseptic firmly lodged in its 
fibres, where it is retained by the insoluble resin, 
and it is to this circumstance that it owes its 
superiority over most other porous applications. It 
is wrapped round the wound folded into a pad of 
about eight layers, and surrounded by a piece of im¬ 
permeable tissue—that known as “ hat-lining.” This 
compels the effusion of serum from the wound to travel 
along the whole extent of the antiseptic investment 
(which should reach several inches beyond its 
margin) before the discharge can come in con¬ 
tact with the open air. The hat-lining is generally 
placed within the outermost layer of the antiseptic 
gauze. While the discharge is free the dressing 
should be changed daily, but as it diminishes, the 
intervals may be increased till, when it is merely 
a few minutes in the twenty-four hours, the gauze 
may be left undisturbed for a week together. 
The gauze is also extremely useful in the form 
of antiseptic bandages. These are employed to 
secure and complete the dressings. They are to 
be had, cut by machinery, of the firm above men¬ 
tioned, in six-yard lengths three inches wide. 
Antiseptic Catgut for Ligatures. 
Take of 
Carbolic Acid, liquefied by the 
addition of 6 per cent, of water. 1 part. 
Olive Oil.5 parts. 
Mix by agitation; this forms an emulsion, not a 
perfect solution on account of the presence of the 
water. Immerse the catgut for two months in the 
emulsion contained in a covered vessel, taking care 
not to let the hanks of gut touch the bottom of the 
vessel, by having a few pebbles or a perforated 
diaphragm on which to rest it. Should it come in 
contact with the water which separates from the 
emulsion, it becomes soft and slippery, and will not 
bear the requisite strain or keep its hold when tied. 
The advantage which sutures of this kind possess 
is that, in time the parts of them imbedded in the 
tissue are absorbed and, therefore, do not require 
removal—the exterior portion and knots then fall 
off with a touch. This circumstance renders the 
cat-gut unfit for sutures intended to retain their hold 
for a considerable period, for which a material less 
amenable to absorption by the tissues is to be pre¬ 
ferred, such as the silk thread generally used for 
sutures, carbolized in the following manner : — 
Antiseptic Silk for Ligatures. 
Take of 
Carbolic Acid, in crystals ... 1 part. 
Beeswax.9 parts. 
