MR. ALCOCK ON THE CHLORIDES 
336 
should have the process of disinfection completed with these so¬ 
lutions. As disinfectants, convenient, not unpleasant, and cer¬ 
tain, these chlorides are exceedingly valuable to the veterinarian; 
and we are under much obligation to Mr. Alcock for directing our 
attention to them. Either of them may be used. The chloride 
of lime is preferable, as a simple and immediate disinfectant; the 
chloride of soda, where we wish to prevent the renewal of pu¬ 
trefaction. 
Mr. Alcock next proceeds to the use of the chloride of soda as 
a remedy in the treatment of disease. He calls it the chloruret 
of oxide of sodium. We have already objected to the term chlo¬ 
ruret, and we somewhat dislike, although it is chemically correct, 
this oxide of sodium. We speak of the sulphate and the carbon¬ 
ate, not of the oxide of sodium, but of plain soda; and why not 
the chloride of soda ? 
For the knowledge of this powerful disinfectant and valuable 
remedy we arc indebted entirely to M. Labarraque, or, at least, 
for the proper preparation of it. 
Of the remedial properties of the chloride of soda Mr. Alcock 
thus speaks:— 
“ The chloruret of oxide of sodium, in common with that of lime, has 
been shewn to possess the valuable property of destroying the most putrid 
effluvia arising from animal substances, even when these effluvia are diffused 
to a considerable extent in the surrounding atmosphere; it has also the 
property, when applied to the substances giving off these effluvia, of arrest¬ 
ing or destroying the progress of putrefaction. Not only does it possess 
this power with regard to dead and detached animal substances, but in 
those distressing forms of disease in which a part or parts of the living 
human body become dead and putrid whilst yet attached to the contiguous 
tissues which preserve their vitality, it has the inestimable power of speedily 
ameliorating this most loathsome condition, by destroying the putrid odour 
emanating^from the dead portions; audit, moreover, generally arrests the 
further progress of decomposition, and promotes the more speedy separa¬ 
tion of the dead parts from the living than can be obtained by ordinary 
means. It very often is capable of changing the nature of malignant, cor¬ 
roding, and destructive sores, into the condition of simple ulcers: in many 
ulcers not malignant it is capable of greatly hastening the cure. In short, 
though not an infallible remedy, it is capable, under the guidance of medi¬ 
cal and surgical skill, sound judgment, and experience, of alleviating, and 
often of totally removing some of the most distressing and loathsome 
diseases to which the human body is liable; disease which too often, uncon¬ 
trolled by remedies previously in use, have hurried numerous victims to 
untimely graves.^' P. 67. 
He then applies this to particular cases; and, speaking either 
from his own experience, or that of men whose evidence cannot 
be doubted, he gives a very interesting account of‘ the effect of 
the chloride of soda on hospital gangrene ; sinuous, phagedenic. 
